Black spots on Clownfish

[BlennyBabe]

This is not any disease, the fish is healthy and active. Eating normally and all behavior indicates great health. Believe me, I know disease when I see it.
Tank has been set up for 8 years or so, weekly water changes with filtered local seawater. temp: 76-79, pH 8.2, 0ammonia 0 nitrite and 0 nitrates. Fed daily mixture of squid, clam, mysis, brine, krill, flake food, and cyclopeeze.


But within the last year, two clowns have developed these strange black spots. Its a permanant change, and none of the spots have faded. I think they are related to age, as both of these fish are over 15 years old. Im just wondering if anyone else has heard of this or seen anything like it before.

Here are some pictures to show you what I mean.

 

[MMERITT28]

If you find info be sure and post it as I think it is very interesting and most people do not have them live that long. Congrats on the 15 and to many years to come.

 

[kalristo]

michael jackson syndrome. jk.

 

[baseballkid5]

Mine have the same spots on them. My guess is some kind of coral burn? Mine are almost always in there Rbta but there are some yellow star polyps by the rbta that im sure they rub against. Im curious to see what answers you get.

 

[returnofsid]

It's called Hyper Melanization. It's usually caused by burns from LPS corals. Once the clownfish and the offending LPS are separated, the condition usually reverses over time.

 

[fatboyt123]

Hey sid my sister's clowns have been hosting this big clump of hairy mushrooms for about 2 years now and they have never had any spots on them. Could it be that there a softie/shroom rather then being an LPS or can clowns build up that slimcoat for softies/shrooms like they do for anemones?

I dont think they can be surely because of age as chuck just posted that his 22 year old clown died and there was no spots on his.

 

[user 26995]

Your using local seawater out of puget sound? I was wondering about the possibility of doing that. Worried about contaminates though. How are you filtering it? Just curious.
And yeah the black spots are what returnofsid said. My male had them from either the mushrooms or the green polyp toadstool that he likes to host. Not sure which, but they eventually went away for him. Actually it may have been from the RBTA when he first found it, but since the female wont let him in it much anymore, he doesnt have the sting spots anymore.

 

[BlennyBabe]

Interesting! Im glad I posted. They are in a tank with no LPS except a fungia, (and I've never seen them go near it) though there are several softies and mushrooms. They have been hosting with the mushrooms for years, and just recently began to bond with their anemone.

Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[leebca]

Blennybabe,

Please read this post:
Small Black Smudges on your Anemonefish?