Clowfish black dots

[trevbo44]

Hi, All
My false-percula clown fish appears to be sick. He has these black spots all over him. I have been treating the water with Melafix but no improvement. His beavior is normal but I am concerned. Suggestions on the identification and tx of this guy?

 

[IslandCrow]

That sounds like Black Ich (which is a different parasite from normal Ich by the way). It's usually seen in tangs, but I don't see any reason why clownfish couldn't get it. Do a search for black ich or black spot disease. My yellow tang got it awhile back, and the recommended treatment for it is a Formalin bath. You may or may not be able to find Formalin at your LFS, but you can definitely find it at most online fish stores. Freshwater dips are an alternate cure, but make sure that's what you have.

The good news is, if that's what your clownfish has, it's seldom lethal, but if it's not treated, it will reoccur.

 

[ChrisRD]

Before you do anything else, do a search here for "melanism" (you should find some threads with pics). It's a harmless pigment condition that is not uncommon with clowns and may be what you are seeing. I've seen it several times in clowns that regularly come in contact with zoanthids...

 

[trevbo44]

Thanks for the input. I am hoping for Melanism. The clown does sleep in side of a leather coral and rests there every chance he gets so perhaps thats the cause. He also rubs against the zoo's. I can't seem to fine any pics though.

 

[Anonymous]

DO you have a UV light plumbed into the system?

These are great for slowing ick outbreaks in the tank (and algae blooms too).

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO it's much more likely to be melanism than black ich.

A few past threads that might be helpful:
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... t=melanism
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... t=melanism
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... t=melanism
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... t=melanism

 

[IslandCrow]

Ahh, I hadn't heard of melanism. Good to know. I agree that's probably a more likely candidate.