Black Spots On Clownfish?

[dja1980]

I’ve noticed some black spots on my clown and figured someone might have some ideas as to what’s wrong.

The spots seem to be primarily on his right side and under side.

He doesn’t act stressed, and he’s been eating… really no changes in behavior.

I haven’t noticed him hosting anything other than his RBTA, which he’s been hosting for about 2 years.

Any ideas?

 

[95accord]

Place the fish in QT immediatly!....it willl probably develop into velvet......mine did last week!!! started the exact same way!!.


in my case it did anyway.

 

[reefman13]

Actually it is not even close to being that serious. Those black spots are from the clown touching or rubbing against some kind of stinging coral.

This is exactly what happend to my little male O.clown when he started hosting Zoas. The spots then developed into black splotches, and he showed zero change in behavior so I also assumed he was fine.

 

[phender]

How long have you had this clown? Have you added any new corals, xenia or zoas to the tank recently?

They look like the marks that clowns sometimes get when using non-anemones or anemones they are not used to as hosts.
If that is the case, he may get more before they go away, but they will gradually fade, sort of like a bruise.

*edit* reefman beat me to it.
Sorry I didn't read the last line about you having him for 2 years.

 

[reefman13]

Sorry about that

 

[Jovreefer]

I just wanted to ditto reefman & phender. Nothing serous at all, it is NOT a sign that a clown will develop velvet. Please dont remove your clown & stress it out.

 

[dja1980]

Thanks guys! I've had the clown for almost 3 years. He's been hosting that RBTA for over 2 years.

The only corals I have been adding are small SPS frags. I did notice that the Pocillopora (bottom left of 3 of the pictures) hasn't been as fuzzy looking for the past few weeks. Actually, if you look at the 3rd picture, you'll notice that the Pocillopora is only fuzzy at the base. I've had that frag since July and it's always been very fuzzy looking... I wonder if the clown recently started rubbing against it at night... I'll have to watch more closely.

 

[reefman13]

That probably isn't it. It is going to be more like some of the corals that have stinging tentacles.