Black Ich?

[Jasongski]

I have a ‘newer’ cycled tank (2 months since cycle ended) and my clown appeared with black spots on only his pectoral fins. The tank was set up with both dry rock/sand and cycled using Dr Tim’s. The only other inhabitants are small frags of gsp, paly’s, and mushrooms. The clown eats like a beast and has shown occasional scratching once or twice. He has been in my tank alone for over a month before spots appeared. Eating and active with no signs of strained breathing.

I just found it odd that on his white body the spots only appear on both fins. And I never see him around the frags. So from any older hands at this, does it appear to be a parasite or something else?

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites -0
Nitrates - 5
Ph - 7.8
Salinity 1.026
Temp - 79

 

[Michael Cronmiller]

I'm no expert but imho I think black ich would be all over the fish not just his find...I have two clowns that had spots appearing only on their orange...figured out they were trying to host random corals and got black spots from stings...if it doesn't spread I wouldn't worry about too much.

 

[Maritimer]

+1 - It does look rather like hypermelanization from coral stings. Pretty normal, pretty common, pretty harmless.

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

^^ Agree with Hyper-Melanization; is he hanging near/rubbing up against the palys?

Any anemones or LPS corals in your tank?

 

[Jasongski]

Thank you for the responses. I thought about the corals but he is never near them, he has kind of taken to my cleaner shrimp of all things. I also thought that if it was a response to stinging that I would see it beyond just the 2 flippers and more into the white body. I will monitor (they have gotten bigger from just small specks to what is now in the pics) and if need be I will try a fresh dip and look for anything that may have fallen off. I was doubtful of the 'black ich' being just isolated to the two fins, Ill have to wait and see.