Black spots on clown

[ilektrik22]

I panicked this morning when I saw 2 black spots on my O. clown,

I was worried that he had black ich, but from what I've read ( in the last 10 minutes) the spots mine has are too large and irregular.

I'm not sure what it is and would love if someone could tell me.

Could they be from him frolicking in some corals, I have/had a hammerhead that just officially bit the dust yestarday, I couldn't figure out why it was receeding and looking so stressed...?

I took a few pics, took me about 45 minutes and that's the best I can do (he's very active, I swear he knew I wanted the picture )




Sorry there not very clear the one on his left side is kind of visible, the one on the right is near his tail and 2x the size of the one on the left.

I'll see if i can get a better pic

thanks

 

[ilektrik22]

Do the spots look like black ich? or is their something else that could be causing them?

There are no new spots and they are not getting any larger

 

[LakeEd]

Ilektrik,

I don't know if what you are seeing is Ich related, or possibly something else, sorry. Hoping to give you at least some feedback here, as well as bumping this back up to the top of the listings, so other's can perhaps help here.

You may wish to read through the following thread:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6302

In it, Elmo18 (very knowledgeable about clowns) mentions a "Melanistic" effect (change in pigmentation color on clowns) that may happen depending on what the clown is hosting in.

Its possible, this darkening effect you're seeing on your clown are the beginning signs of this happening??? I really don't know for sure, just tossing out ideas for other's to comment on for you, hopefully getting you the final information you need.

 

[Elmo18]

They will be fine. Probably just stings from a coral. It happens when they go into an anemone from a long absense, or they go from an anemone into another coral.

Best,
Ilham

 

[goinpronhl9]

About a week ago I noticed a strange flap of what appeared to be light white color (perhaps a flap of skin or whatever fish have?) right next to the nostril of my clown. I was worried it was ich cuz i had an outbreak about a mmonth ago, so i treated him and since then it has gradually turned from light color to a blood red color and it appears to be more swollen.I dont have any corals i runa FOWLR. Is this just a scrape he got from swimmin into a rock or is it some form or parasite? Is there any treatment either way? Thanks for the replies!

 

[ilektrik22]

Thanks for the replies, I've never really seen ich before so i wasn't sure, just wanted to be careful.

thanks

Sorry goinpronhl9 I don't know enough to help

 

[LakeEd]

About a week ago I noticed a strange flap of what appeared to be light white color (perhaps a flap of skin or whatever fish have?) right next to the nostril of my clown. I was worried it was ich cuz i had an outbreak about a mmonth ago, so i treated him and since then it has gradually turned from light color to a blood red color and it appears to be more swollen.I dont have any corals i runa FOWLR. Is this just a scrape he got from swimmin into a rock or is it some form or parasite? Is there any treatment either way? Thanks for the replies!

Goinpronh,

It sounds to me as if your clown has some type of injury, that is now infected. Treating this infection as soon as possible is your best choice right now. Get a QT tank up and place your clown in there so you can treat him/her. I have borrowed a quote from Steve-S from another thread about the type of antibiotic and dosage for you to see here now, but you should start your own thread in this forum about your clown so Steve can give you better direct information.

Next get to the LFS and see if they have a good gram negative antibiotic. Maracyn II for SW (Minocycline/Tetracycline @2mg/gal first day and 1mg/gal afterwards for 10 days), Gentamicin (20mg/gal daily for 7 days) or Kanamycin (190 mg/gal added every 3rd day for 3 treatments) and purchase an appropriate amount for your QT size. Neomycin is also an option.

 

[ilektrik22]

I was wondering if anyone could comment:

The clown that originally had the black spots still has the same 2, they havn't changed in shape/size.

But my second clown also has 2 spots ( one on either side) I've never seen them hanging around/in any of my corals and I don't have an anenome. They do like to hangout with my heater though. ( parameters, salinity 1.025, nitrates<2.5, ammonia 0, pH 8.0, temp 78)

thanks

 

[leebca]

From what I can tell, LakeEd has it right.

The condition is known as Hyper-Melaninization. There is something in the aquarium that is bothering the fish. The most likely are the Anemones and Corals, but not having any of those, then there may be something 'lurking' on/amongst the rocks that isn't obvious to you.

Although the condition isn't usually fatal, it still calls for making sure the fishes are getting the proper nutrition, with immune boosters for the time being. Second the situation calls for trying to find and remove/eliminate the culprit.

I've never heard of a piece of equipment causing this condition, but then, there is always something new to learn in the hobby. Put a screen or cage around the heater so that the fish can't get close to it or get burned by it. Feeding the above mentioned regime, see if it heals on its own. If it does, then it may be the heater. :evil:

 

[ilektrik22]

Thanks Lee, I will try covering it.

I soak their food in garlic and selcon on alternating days, I alternate between 4 frozen foods(loaded brine,mysis,formula1,and another one), formula 2 flakes and garlic soaked nori & red seaweed, NewSpectrum pellets. ( I need to try and find some other types of seaweed to spark their interst)

I normally feed 2 of the above each day, although I don't think they are eating enough of their veggies their really not interested in it ( other tank inhabitants are more carnivors)

Is this a good menu for them or is their something else I should be adding?

 

[leebca]

I think it's pretty good. Replace the garlic soak with a vitamin soak (Selcon is a fat supplement and that's good, but it isn't vitamins); daily put in a bit of algae; add two feedings in addition to the algae offering; and keep the brine shrimp and mysis feedings to less than 25% of their diet.

Read the ingredient list of the prepared foods you feed. They should not need to and not have land products (wheat, flour, gluten, spinach, etc.); fresh water products; nor non-sea products.

 

[ilektrik22]

Which vitamin soak would you recommend, I've tried to find one but haven't been able to as of yet.

I've been reading the packages, and tried to find foods that have some ocean plant material in them and proper oceanic type foods with little to no
land stuff.

I read your tutorials about feeding before I bought fish ( and food). I tried to follow them as much as possible, their awsome posts, as a new saltwater keeper it's one of those over looked things when your trying to learn SO much, but it's extreamly important, thank you for writing that!

thank you
( and my fish thank you as well )

 

[leebca]

You're welcome!

Vitamins & Fats:
GVH by H2O Life (one kind for foods, one kind for algae)
Selco
Selcon (fats)
Vita-Chem
Zoe
Zoecon (fats)
Only buy small, fresh containers of these so you will use them up in less than 2 months. Alternate their use. Use one product for a couple of months, then switch to another.

You should be able to find these online through some of the sponsors of Reef Frontiers.

Getting them in Canada can be a challenge. Big Al's has a Canadian outlet and I think they carry Vita-Chem (by Boyd).

 

[ilektrik22]

Thanks I'll probably order them online, I've seen the Vita-chem, I just didn't know if it was any good since it was in big Al's

thanks again