Black spots on Clown

[cdsheid]

I have two percula clown. In a newly set up jbj 105 watt power compact 28gal reef tank. Today looking at the clowns i noticed black spots on the orange section of the fish. I have never post pics before but i am working on a way. I will hopefully have some up. But if anybody has seen black spots and have any idea if it is a disease or just weird coloration. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks :worried:

 

[shroutk3]

If these spots are the typical ones, they come and go. Often as a reaction to the clown being stung by a coral or anemone. With out seeing picutures though its hard to say.

 

[davelin315]

Could be Black Spot Disease. More common in tangs, easy to see on yellow tangs, but clowns can also get it. It comes from Paravortex member turbellarian flatworms and they basically lay dormant in the sandbed until they are mature then they swim up and attack fish. Their lifecycle is such that they live in the sand, attack a fish, then drop off and explode and turn into more of the same. They will actually move around on the fish, but it's very difficult to see them on anything but light colored fish (which is why it's also called Tang Disease because of how easy it is to see on yellow tangs). These will look like tiny black grains of sand on the fish and manifests itself much like ich with a similar lifestyle.

 

[elegance coral]

Black spots on ocellaris and percula are very common if they are using soft corals, like zoo's, as a host. Probably caused by stings. There's usually no noticeable signs of stress, other than the black spots. Naturally, the fish can't stick it's head out of the water and say, "Hay!!!! This crap doesn't feel good!", though.

 

[syrinx]

I don`t think it bothers them- they certainly don`t avoid the corals that cause it!

 

[davelin315]

I would take a few pictures of the fish and see if the spots are consistent. The "tissue burns" from getting stung are usually a bit larger and don't move, whereas the turbellarian worm infestations usually only last a few days and then the worms drop off. The spots from the worms are also much smaller and move... Lots of times people will think that it's just a sting when in fact it's the worms. Then when the worms drop off to propagate themselves people figure that the fish has simply gotten better and the markings have gone away, instead of the disease just not being on the skin.

 

[cdsheid]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the replies. Does any one know what the treatement is if they do in fact have worms?