Clownfish with pimple-like bumps

[kelp47]

I have two captive-bred clownfish that just went into my display six days ago. Before that, they were quarantined and treated successfully for some sort of external parasite. (It looked like ich, but TTM didn't work at all, so I used CP.) After the treatment, they stayed in quarantine for another 2 weeks with no problems. The total time in QT was 80 days.

Now they have these bumps that I thought was ich at first. But then I noticed that it looks more like a bump under the skin. Some have a "white head" and some do not. They also appear bigger than ich to me. The fish in the photos below is only about an inch and a half long. (Some of the smaller specks are floating in the water or on the glass.) Also, a few nights ago while I was watching them with the tank lights off, but with a light on behind the tank, it looked like there were small holes in the tail fin. I could only see them with the fish back-lit. These appear to be gone now.

Some other facts:
-The bumps are only on their fins, except for a couple at the base of the fin. Most are on their tail and anal fins, but there are a couple/few on their pectoral fins (and these appear whiter).
-The fish are actively swimming and eating, and show no signs of breathing distress as far as I can tell.
-I have seen occasional flashing, but it's not constant. Plus keep in mind that this is the first time they have been in any sort of reef environment in their life--first time with other types of fish and any coral.
-The display is a mixed reef, a year and half old, with one seaweed blenny and one pajama cardinal and a couple of anemones.
-I have two other fish in the aquarium that show no signs of these bumps.
-I don't have recent tank parameters, but can provide them later if necessary.

My best guesses are mild lymphocystis or skin flukes. Anyone other ideas?

 

[kelp47]

Actually, I have seen them scratch a little--the head, I think. But it's only in the evening after they've been hanging out with the green star polyp (it covers my overflow). Could the GSP be bothering them???

 

[ThRoewer]

It seems these two guys really like to pick up all kinds of things to give you trouble.
I don't know what it is this time, but it looks like there is something under their skin. As long as they show no signs of distress I would for now wait and observe.

 

[kelp47]

I know! I feel so bad for them--I even named them He-Man and She-Ra because I thought they deserved good warrior names after all they've endured

 

[kelp47]

I can further confirm that it is NOT ich (whew!), and possibly not any kind of parasite-- the spots/bumps seem to get larger, then smaller until they disappear; rather than suddenly appearing one day, hanging on for a few days and then suddenly disappearing.

I think the male is clear, and the female just has two or three spots left on her.

Maybe it's just some kind of virus--that's what I'm hoping and praying for!

This further demonstrates the importance to diagnosing rather than just jumping on treatment. I have seen so many threads where someone will just mention white spots and several people will automatically shout "ich!" I know ich is very common and nightmare to deal with, but every fish illness should be evaluated very carefully before deciding on a treatment--or lack thereof. Having said this, I will continue to watch my clowns very closely in case something does change, and I plan to give my QT tanks a thorough cleaning tomorrow (still not broken down from the last QT) in case they're needed.

 

[ThRoewer]

...
Maybe it's just some kind of virus--that's what I'm hoping and praying for!
...

A virus would be the last I would hope for as they are largely untreatable and often deadly. Lymphocystis is pretty much the only exception of a less dangerous virus infection.

I would rather hope for allergies or coral stings.

In general it's best to observe and be sure about the diagnosis before starting any specific treatment.

 

[kelp47]

A virus would be the last I would hope for as they are largely untreatable and often deadly. Lymphocystis is pretty much the only exception of a less dangerous virus infection.

I would rather hope for allergies or coral stings.

In general it's best to observe and be sure about the diagnosis before starting any specific treatment.

There's really not much information available on viruses other than lympho, so I guess I just assumed they were all not so bad... my mistaken assumption.

Both fish still have the spots/bumps that appear and disappear, but I'm not seeing any signs of distress. Maybe it is just allergies or coral stings. They are still active and eating, and seem to have developed a routine. They hang out on one end of the tank most of the day. As the lights get low, they hang out with the GSP on the other end. Then when it gets completely dark, they retire to a corner by the overflow.

The other two fish in the tank still aren't showing the symptoms either. And they won't have any new tank mates for a while since I have a vacation coming up and wouldn't want to have any fish in QT or new in the display during that time.

For now--continuing to observe.

 

[Zalick]

Did you ever figure out what caused the bumps? How did the fish do?

 

[kelp47]

I have no idea. But they are healthy as can be! The bumps became more seldom and fewer in number, so I stopped checking for them...