White after Nem touch

[stevetcg]

I have a pair of Occelaris clowns in my main tank. Recently, I ran across a gorgeous s. haddani and added it in. He made its way up to the flower pot that the clowns are prepping to spawn in and the clowns touched the nem.

Now they have white areas - almost like welts where they touched the carpet. Is this normal? Does it go away? They are not behaving as they normally do. They didnt eat this afternoon and they are staying well away from the pot now.

 

[WDLV]

It sounds like a pathogen might have been added along with the haddoni. Stings from anemones and corals usually show up as black spots. If you're seeing white spots I would be concerned. Post photos if you can. They need to be clear.

 

[stevetcg]

This is the best picture I can get. It looks like Ich in this picture, but its not anything like any of the ich ive ever seen. The splotches are much bigger and do not seem to protrude like ich does. Im almost thinking the slime you get on your hands when you touch a nem.

Either way, the clowns are back to acting as close to normal as a clown ever does.

 

[Toddrtrex]

About 7 (( or so )) years ago I had a yellow watchman goby that got too close to one of my Haddonis. I managed to pull it free (( though it did die the next day )) and it had very similar white "marks" that you are describing --- it was "clean" prior to the encounter. It could very well be from the Haddoni if they were otherwise healthy prior to this.

Also, is the anemone climbing on the rocks? That isn't normal behavior for a Haddoni, they prefer to be in/on the sandbed -- IME right at the sand/rock interface.

 

[stevetcg]

No - he is in the sand, laying over a bit of the tank wall and one rock pile, but his foot is firmly in the sand.

 

[tufacody]

While its probably from the nem, your description does sound a little like brook.

 

[WDLV]

Given the picture I'm going with either ick or amyloodinium. Those fish shoulld be quarrantined and treated immediately.

 

[stevetcg]

Just as an update - the white spots peeled off on their own like they were Elmers Glue on your hand and the fish seem to be doing just fine.

 

[jasonrp104]

Were they spots or poofy blotches? My female will get these blotches from time to time. Other than looking bad, they seem to have no other effect on her

 

[stevetcg]

Kind of poofy, almost like someone stuck glue on them. Then it peeled off. Maybe it was nem slime?

 

[WDLV]

I'd be curious to know if it's back when you get home. Did you see it "peel off" or was it just there last night and gone this morning?

 

[stevetcg]

I did see it peel off. Took a few hours. If youve ever seen a snake molt, it almost looked like that.

 

[WDLV]

Sorry. I can't help you there. I've not seen that before.