Clown has transparent tail?!

[Courtney & David]

What is wrong with my clown’s tail?! It was solid a week ago and today I noticed it is looking thin and transparent. I know it’s hard to tell in the pics, but he’s a mover...

salinity is 1.025
Ammonia is 0 ppm
Nitrite is 0 ppm
Nitrate is 5 ppm

 

[Courtney & David]

Here are more pics and a video.

 

[j.falk]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Courtney & David]

A little blurry but better pics of the spot in question.

 

[vetteguy53081]

A few things can cause this. Some common reasons for a fish losing colour are stress, water conditions and inadequate nutrition , age and even brooklynella. Some aquarists dont realize, but clowns are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants. They typically eat algae, zooplankton, worms and small crustaceans as well as flakes and mysis.

If you can. please post clearer pics under white lights to verify no Brook or similar. Also what is your Ph level?
Low ph can have an effect on fish coloration.

 

[Courtney & David]

A few things can cause this. Some common reasons for a fish losing colour are stress, water conditions and inadequate nutrition , age and even brooklynella. Some aquarists dont realize, but clowns are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants. They typically eat algae, zooplankton, worms and small crustaceans as well as flakes and mysis.

If you can. please post clearer pics under white lights to verify no Brook or similar. Also what is your Ph level?
Low ph can have an effect on fish coloration.

Ph is at an 8. They are fed PE pellets in the morning and frozen Marine Cuisine and/or Emerald Entree in the evening.

 

[j.falk]

I've never seen a clownfish tail turn transparent before. Interested to see what causes it.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry - I looked at the pictures and both videos and can't see the tail clearly enough. In a couple of them, it looked almost halfmoon shaped...to me, that implies a bit from the larger clown. The fish seems well otherwise, it's holding its fins up and swimming good.


Jay

 

[fishguy242]

hi,first look,thought,bite mark from other clown,monitor,and other fish closely,any probs,come back here,open 24/7

 

[Courtney & David]

Sorry - I looked at the pictures and both videos and can't see the tail clearly enough. In a couple of them, it looked almost halfmoon shaped...to me, that implies a bit from the larger clown. The fish seems well otherwise, it's holding its fins up and swimming good.


Jay

I was able to get some clearer photos. He’s swimming great, actively eating, and seems normal.

 

[fishguy242]

still thinkin' bite,watch other fish for anything,and clowns for .too..aggresive behavior

 

[smacbride]

Sometimes when they get a chunk taken out of a fin, it will grow back clear. That could be it growing back???

 

[Courtney & David]

The two clowns are the only two in the tank and I haven’t seen them be aggressive towards each other, but ill keep an eye on em.

 

[j.falk]

The fact that it's a clownfish and the fin is turning white / opaque (not growing back clear) really seems like brooklynella could be a strong possibility.

 

[Jib]

So my clownfish (not designer) has a white outline at the end of his tail that looks almost transparent sometimes

 

[vetteguy53081]

We really need pics with white lights on or white lights only/ All pics looks like a silhouette

 

[Courtney & David]

Hopefully these will help

 

[sfin52]

It looks like a bite.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That is a bite and nothing more likely than with good water quality and diet, will heal. Better photos and nice looking clown.
Do determine who the biter is.

 

[maybe]

My clownfish fight frequently do see 2 of them.