False Perc Has Black Spots

T

The Saltwater Kid

New member
When we bought our false perc he had a little black spot on his right side. We didn't think much of it as he seemed very healthy and energetic and it wasn't raised up at all, just discolored. We've had him for about 3 weeks now and just yesterday morning when I woke up and looked at the tank I noticed he has a lot more black spots (mostly on his right side) on his orange parts and in his fins (and even on his nose). Naturally this has me worried as they seem to have appeared overnight. He is showing no ill effects, he still eats very well and isn't swimming irregular and there are no raised sores on his skin just these flat discolored black spots that I can only discribe best as chicken pox looking. I have set up a quarantine tank and was thinking of putting him in there and treating it with an anti-parasitic medicine. Should I be this worried? Any idea's what it could be? Should I quarantine and medicate him? Nemo is my wife's favorite fish and he has so much personality that I'd like to save him if he needs saving. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
assuming everything else looks normal, he is acting normal and the spots are as described it is most likely just discoloration caused from hosting coral (usually zoanthids)
 
I do have some zoo frags but nothing big enough to host in. I think he hosts in my green bubble coral. I also have a pink tipped hammer coral but have never seen him hosting in it. If I get enough people telling me not to worry than i won't but I just want to make sure #1 he isn't sick and #2 if he is sick he isn't going to infect my other fish!!!
 
i wouldn't worry about it. I have a false perc that used to have black spots for over 3 years and it was always healthy. The spots have disappeared within the last year though, I think probably due to better water quality. (I moved him from a FOWLR to a SPS reef) The black spots also did not affect any of my other fish.
 
I noticed this afternoon at lunch that he is starting to get the spots on his left side as well. As long as others on here with more experience than I think he is fine I will leave him in the main tank...I just hope he's all right and that whatever it is won't infect my other fish!!!
 
So should I hold off on quarantining the lil' guy? What signs should I look for that would be cause for concern (I thought I saw him swim by and rub his side on the powerhead a couple of times but he could just be playing right)?
 
i had the same on my false percs, they did fine for a long time *about a year) until I have them away to a buddy . i wouldn't QT it or treat it with meds because that might stress the little bugger out.
 
So the consensus I'm getting is that there's nothing wrong with him and I don't have to worry about him or my other fish? Does anyone know for sure the cause of this condition?
 
I know that it very often happens with ocilerous and perculas who live in tanks with zoanthids and sometimes when they are hosted by other corals like torches and hammers. There is also an anemone, the mertins, which can turm all of the orange pigment black.

I wouldn't wory about it as it seems to not have any negative side effects. You could try removing the zoanthids if the color bothers you.
 
My had the said "dark spot", they went away in a week or two... I believe it was stung by nearby corals...


here is a pic


dsc031836uz.jpg
 
My clown got the same thing when she started hosting zoas. She was covered in black spots. They have all gone now...

Steve
 
what are you feeding your clown? If u asre getting some fading or discoloration, try giving him some cyclopeezei feed mine cyclopeeze, and the are bright bright orange and are healthy as ever.

hth morgan
 
Mine in my wife's nano get those. One day, it has a ton. The next day just a few. I think it's normal.
 
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