Clownfish butt rubbing

[johnnybravo234]

My ocellaris clownfish has been doing "burnouts" in the sand it almost appears as though hes rubbing his rear in the sand to remove a parasite. He is probably going to quarantine anyway because of some strange white spots (dont look like ich). let me know what you think

 

[itz frank]

the "buttrubbing" is from Marine ich. They're do it on the rocks too. If you see white spots most likely it's caused from ich.

 

[ek9vboi]

.... hum. what if they are doing it after the lights are out? Mine tends to rub up against the rocks during night time. odd... yeah. maybe they are confused and think its an anemone. lol

 

[johnnybravo234]

I think i should get him into quarantine and zap those little suckers with the uv sterilizer. Its strange though for him to get ich.. i wonder what his problem is. Maybe he needs a companion.

 

[johnnybravo234]

Its strange though because it doesnt look like ich. They kind of look like scales but disappear after a couple of days like ich. Im thinking it may be some other parasite. Ive never had problems like this with a clown before though. FW dips may be in order too.

 

[ek9vboi]

As of right do not put another clown into the tank... it might infect the other clown as well and they will fight at the beginning.

The idea of a FW dip for fish is bad IMO. Its like depriving you of oxygen, they are living just like you and me.

 

[RokleM]

Sorry, but honestly I don't think "buttrubbing" has anything to do with ICH. I've never heard of that answer.

I have 20 fish, and not a single one of them shows the slightest sign of ICH. Both of my perc's do a little "buttrub" or I like to call it a "sand burn out" as they shoot a few inches. My female does it a LOT more than my male, and it's always in the same general area. I would assume it has something to do with mating/hosting.

Mine don't show any damage, missing scales, scrapes, dots, or anything else however.

 

[johnnybravo234]

Hes been doing this for about a while now. I always just figured he was stirring the sand up looking for copepods or worms or something else to eat. Either that or hes trying to remove an intestinal worm thats partially hanging out. I dont understand what is stressing him out bad enough to get ich though. He eats fine and Ive got a regal tang and a powder brown tang in the same tank with him and both of them are clear of parasites so it doesnt really make much sensefor him to have them.