Possible Clown problem

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 03:37 PM

I was working on getting the refugium set up last night and was around it and the main tank most of the night. This morning I noticed a possible problem with both of my clown fish. I'm hoping it's just a scrape or where something picked at and not some srt of bacteria. I was watching everything closely yesterday and I didn't see any marks on either one of the clown fish but today I spotted these marks. In the first 3 pics it's the side of clown 1, right behind the side fin, there also looks like there is a small piece of something hanging loose but it can only be seenwhen the fish is quartered away from you (sorry I tried but could not get this pic). In the last 2 pics it is clown 2, there is a small white bump (almost more like a scrape) with a v shaped scuffing/mark going up from it. It doesn't look like ich but I suppose it could be. These are the only 2 marks I've found on either fish and the rest of the fish in the tank seem very healthy without any problems, 2 tangs, 1 mandarine, 1 copperbanded butterfly and 1 neon goby. I did add some LR to the refugium 3 days ago, Florida aquaculture, 3 sps corals and 1 leather on this past Tues and the copperband has been in the main tank about 1 weeks now. Other than that nothing new within the past month. The 2 clowns have recently started showing an interest in both the torch coral and in the long tenacle anenomie.

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 03:38 PM

clown 1 pic 2

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 03:39 PM

Clown 1 pic 3

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 03:41 PM

Clown 2 pic 1

cyberchef · 03-16-2002, 03:43 PM

clown 2 pic 2
The v shape mark is more noticeable in this pic but still very light/vague

cyberchef · 03-17-2002, 02:10 AM

beach bum · 03-17-2002, 02:52 AM

Heres my $.02 if you want it. The second clown looks like a harmless bump, scrape, or nick, keep an eye on it for any kind of worsening, otherwise he looks fine.

The first though, looks like a more serious condition. Could be a sting of some sort. Same thing, keep an eye out for improvement or degredation of the area. Also start to watch for other telltale behavior patterns (flashing, heavy breathin, etc...)

Not to worry you, but just for 411, the only thing I've seen like that in the first one is Brook. But even then it doesn't look quite the same (is it bi-lateral??). Keep us posted.

chris

cyberchef · 03-17-2002, 04:18 AM

Sorry if this makes me sound stupid but what do you mean by bi-lateral?

It possibly could be some sort of sting I suppose, The clowns have only recently, past week or so, shown interest in a host, long tenacle anenomie and a torch coral. They seem to be more interested in the torch coral. They are currently spending their nights lavishing in it even though it's mostly closed up.

JennM · 03-17-2002, 08:45 AM

Neither the torch, nor the LTA is the clowns' natural host, so it's entirely possible that they are stings. Watch that the lesions get smaller, not bigger and keep an eye for any cottony looking stuff around the wound sites. If that happens you've got something bacterial or fungal going on.

If you want/can you can give a FW dip to both the fish, that will kill off anything external that might be infecting them, and clowns tolerate this treatment well. Fresh RO or distilled water at the same temp as your tank, place them in it for 5 minutes then return them to their tank.

HTH

Jenn

beach bum · 03-17-2002, 02:59 PM

Sorry, I was asking if those markings are apparent on both sides of the fish, or are they just on the one side? If they are just on the one side I would suspect a sting or wound of some sort. Otherwise if they are uniform on both sides and/or spreading from the original site, then some measure of treatment should probably be taken. JennM has good experience and what she said sounds like great advice.

JennM - how important is it to match the Ph of dip water to tank water? Or is temp the most important? Thanks.

cyberchef · 03-17-2002, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the replies Chris and Jenn. Not the marks are not bi-lateral and so far they have not gotten bigger. Also the fish seem fine and are eating, funny as all watching a 1" fish trying to eat snail eggs that are planktonic in size, as well as swimming around in the current as usual. I'll definately keep an eye on them and I might go ahead and give them a FW dip just to play it safe.