Spots on small juvenile clownfish

[illmatik]

I've had these two clownfish for about 1.5 months now. One of them is a tad bit paler than the other, and also has white spots on it. I've noticed these white spots weeks ago and I've never really been concerned because he seems to be eating well and is active. The other clownfish does seem to be growing more than the paler one with spots so I thought I'd ask for advice. I tried to get a good pic but you can barely see a few of the spots. It's more noticeable at night with the blue LED lights on.

The only odd behavior I observe with the clownfish in question is he seems to be much more jittery than his counterpart. He kind of darts around back and forth whereas the other one is a little more relaxed.

Details about my tank, it's about 3 months old. 28 Gallon JBJ. The two clownfish were the first fish added along with a firefish after cycling and were bought from a reputable LFS. I've got a handful of corals which are all doing well except for SPS, as I have a bit of a phosphate issue from Pukani rock.

Is it normal for some clownfish to have white spots in their coloration or is something like that always an indication of something wrong?

 

[jraker]

Ich. QT immediately

 

[pyithar]

it looks more like brooklynella to me. you'll need to do formalin dips if it's brooklynella. you should post this in the fish disease forum to get more experts opinions.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

it looks more like brooklynella to me. you'll need to do formalin dips if it's brooklynella. you should post this in the fish disease forum to get more experts opinions.

Looks like brook to me, too, though it's odd that it has had this condition for so long. Brook took out my clowns a lot faster than "weeks"....

QT immediately and determine for sure what that is before you treat.

 

[homer1475]

Can't be brook if its had it for weeks?

If it's ich or brook, QT and treat immediately or they both will die along with any other fish in there.

 

[gone fishin]

I see the spots but there is not really enough to detail for to say what it is.

But a couple observations. If the spots have been there for weeks I doubt it is brook, this is a fast killer.

If the spots have been in the same place and have not come and gone then I doubt it is ich.

The following link has a diagnosis section that may help you. the link can be found in the fish disease forum. Good luck


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389659

 

[illmatik]

The spots have truly been there for weeks if not over a whole month. He may have even had them since I've owned him but I don't recall noticing them until weeks back. He's very active and eating well.

 

[billdogg]

It's really hard to tell without a better (close up) picture, but because the spots have been there, unmoving, I vote for lymphocystis. If that is the case, no worrys. Not contagious and will eventually go away on their own.

 

[illmatik]

Just an update... I started soaking my pellets in selcon about three days ago and all the spots are gone off the clown. His colors are starting to darken a bit and he seems less jittery too.

Thanks for all the help

 

[billdogg]

Keep an eye on all your livestock. If the spots return on any of them, you should probably remove them to a Hospital Tank and be prepared to treat for disease.

 

[killinit123]

did these clowns pair with that zoanthid colony? the only reason I ask is because my clowns did that at one point and it caused black spots on them from he zoas stinging them.. I though yours has white spots it could just be form the different zoa species.. its just a shot in the dark but figured i would throw it out there.

 

[illmatik]

They both did indeed pair with that colony of button polyps, but I have seen no ill effects as a result. They sleep in it every night. It's probably the coolest thing about having my first reef tank 4 months in

Just to update, the clownfish in question looks worlds better since I've started soaking pellets in selcon. Not sure if this is what fixed it, or if he was on the upswing anyways, but I soak my pellets in them every day now.

He's noticeably more plump, and also more mellow. Now, like his counterpart, he swims around with a slow wavy motion. Before when he had white spots, he was darting all over the place in quick, fidgety like movements.

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

How long has he had this if he's still alive. Does he still eat? If he's had this for more than 2 weeks it can't be marine ich. Any fish that I've had get marine ich and die only lasted about 5 days.