Spots on my clown fish

[BradMugs]

I have two A. Ocellaris clown fish and they are starting to get black spots on them. My son says they need an anemone as they are rubbing themselves on either my zoa's or play's and getting stung.

Is that the case? If so what anemone would you suggest? I've got a 55 reef and I've avoided getting an anemone due to the possibliity of it stinging the corals, getting cooked next to the heater or sucked into a pump.

None of these things are near the sand bed so maybe a host anemone that lives in the sand would be best.

Suggestions?

 

[davewbush]

I don't no what the black dots are, but you do not need an anenmone to keep clowns. I've had clowns over 5 years now, with no problems and no anemones. You might want to post in the clown fish and anemone fourm for more info.

 

[kraze3]

here is a link for you to compare with some pics

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=127010

 

[WaterKeeper]

Most probably Brooklynella, aka clownfish disease. It is a cilitated protozoa similar to ich and is treated in the same fashion. See Ich Looky Here.

 

[CoRPS]

The black spots may be stings but more than likely it's just then morphing their colors a bit. It happens all the time. As for the anemone, like Dave says it's really not needed. Zoas don't have a very strong sting, in fact a lot of people have clownfish that host their torch corals which have a MUCH stronger sting.

Either way, I'm sure it's nothing to really worry about.

 

[kraze3]

Zoas and palays wont sting clownfish. Do you have a toadstool or frogspawn?
The anemone should get cooked next to a heater, if it wants to move it will. It really shouldnt get sucked into a PH either. It will sting other corals though. As stated above clowns do not need an anemone. Mine host in my GSP and frogspawn.

 

[BradMugs]

Using the linke Kraze3 posted my clowns look just like #4 by Beth. Guess it's just a reaction to the stings, not harmful and doesn't indicate I need an anemone so I'll just let things stay as they are.

Thanks

 

[buccard]

I saw some clowns with black spots in mflamb's 300 gallon(reef central member) The clowns were hosting a colony of zoas-mflamb said the spots showed as soon as they started hosting the zoas. Seems probable yours are the same-

 

[BradMugs]

I'm pretty sure its from the zoas but they don't seem to last very long unless they have the ability to move 8^) One day they are here, the next they are gone and later I see then else where. They do wriggle into the zoas....

 

[Toddrtrex]

Zoas, will cause the black spots on clowns, it can happen with almost any coral they is hosting the clowns. Besides the spots themselves, no harm is caused by them.