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jcoopergd · 02-05-2005, 03:55 PM

The following was cut and pasted from "Wet Web Media" at www.wetwebemdia.com/clndisfaqs.htm

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Black spots on Clownfish
Bob,
I've got a Clownfish with a problem. I've had this fish for over
a year and he's always been very healthy. In the last 2 weeks, I've
noticed some small black spots developing on the lower portion of
his body and fins. This part of his body is yellow and the spots
are jet black, so it doesn't fit the profile of ick or velvet.
He still eats well and doesn't seem to be in great distress, although
he's a little more jumpy and active than before. He hasn't been
flashing, but seems more interested in staying in the highest
current areas of the tank. He's probably trying to cure himself
but I think he needs help. It doesn't seem any better now than
a week ago and is actually a little worse.
Other animals in the tank include the typical "cleanup crew" mix
of hermit crabs and snails, a yellow mimic tang, a small pink
crab that came with a (now dead) birds nest coral, decorator crab,
black banded starfish, green star polyps, colt coral, yellow leather
coral, and button polyps, all of which are doing fine. Nothing new
has been added for over 6 months except what springs up in the
tank (hermit crabs and snails are reproducing, sessile worms,
feather dusters, etc).
The tank is a 40 Gal. with ~50 lbs. of live rock. It's been
running for over 1 year. Very little green algae, lots of
coralline algae. Alk/Cal are at 4/400, nitrates ~10ppm, phosphates
near 0, good water movement (2 MaxiJet 1000s, Knop Skimmer, Fluval
Canister w/spray bar), good lighting (2x96w Power Compact). Filter
contains Eheim coarse media prefilter, Kent "reef carbon", "bio-max",
and sponge. SG is ~1.023 and average temperature is 80F (ranges from
79-81). I do a 5 gallon water change monthly.

>The Clown's markings are almost undoubtedly nothing more than "regular"
>"age-spots"....not an infectious, parasitic problem, nor indication of
>environmental difficulties... I would do nothing to "treat" this dark spot
>condition... Bob Fenner

Bob,
Thanks a lot for your advice. At first I thought it was nothing
to worry about and then paranoia took over. The clown does seem
to be OK and eating well. I will leave well enough alone.
Thanks, Dave

>>
Ah, good... the "null hypothesis" (the "cost" of doing nothing) is often lost in the human experience... This is the best (i.e. "wait, look, and see") approach in this case... in my estimation.
Be chatting, Bob Fenner

I don't have a hospital or fish-only tank running right now. I can
start up a small hospital tank if needed. Any advice you can share
will be most appreciated. Dave

>>
The Clown's markings are almost undoubtedly nothing more than "regular" "age-spots"....not an infectious, parasitic problem, nor indication of environmental difficulties... I would do nothing to "treat" this dark spot condition...
Bob Fenner

-------

There you go! hopefully that helps!

02-05-2005, 03:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
jcoopergd Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 250 View Gallery Karma Komment	The following was cut and pasted from "Wet Web Media" at www.wetwebemdia.com/clndisfaqs.htm -------- Black spots on Clownfish Bob, I've got a Clownfish with a problem. I've had this fish for over a year and he's always been very healthy. In the last 2 weeks, I've noticed some small black spots developing on the lower portion of his body and fins. This part of his body is yellow and the spots are jet black, so it doesn't fit the profile of ick or velvet. He still eats well and doesn't seem to be in great distress, although he's a little more jumpy and active than before. He hasn't been flashing, but seems more interested in staying in the highest current areas of the tank. He's probably trying to cure himself but I think he needs help. It doesn't seem any better now than a week ago and is actually a little worse. Other animals in the tank include the typical "cleanup crew" mix of hermit crabs and snails, a yellow mimic tang, a small pink crab that came with a (now dead) birds nest coral, decorator crab, black banded starfish, green star polyps, colt coral, yellow leather coral, and button polyps, all of which are doing fine. Nothing new has been added for over 6 months except what springs up in the tank (hermit crabs and snails are reproducing, sessile worms, feather dusters, etc). The tank is a 40 Gal. with ~50 lbs. of live rock. It's been running for over 1 year. Very little green algae, lots of coralline algae. Alk/Cal are at 4/400, nitrates ~10ppm, phosphates near 0, good water movement (2 MaxiJet 1000s, Knop Skimmer, Fluval Canister w/spray bar), good lighting (2x96w Power Compact). Filter contains Eheim coarse media prefilter, Kent "reef carbon", "bio-max", and sponge. SG is ~1.023 and average temperature is 80F (ranges from 79-81). I do a 5 gallon water change monthly. >The Clown's markings are almost undoubtedly nothing more than "regular" >"age-spots"....not an infectious, parasitic problem, nor indication of >environmental difficulties... I would do nothing to "treat" this dark spot >condition... Bob Fenner Bob, Thanks a lot for your advice. At first I thought it was nothing to worry about and then paranoia took over. The clown does seem to be OK and eating well. I will leave well enough alone. Thanks, Dave >> Ah, good... the "null hypothesis" (the "cost" of doing nothing) is often lost in the human experience... This is the best (i.e. "wait, look, and see") approach in this case... in my estimation. Be chatting, Bob Fenner I don't have a hospital or fish-only tank running right now. I can start up a small hospital tank if needed. Any advice you can share will be most appreciated. Dave >> The Clown's markings are almost undoubtedly nothing more than "regular" "age-spots"....not an infectious, parasitic problem, nor indication of environmental difficulties... I would do nothing to "treat" this dark spot condition... Bob Fenner ------- There you go! hopefully that helps!