clown has white moustache

DrayB · Jun 8, 2016

Hi all.
i feel like all i do is post questions about sick fish.....but.... my male clown fish has what looks like a white moustache. only noticed it today.
i will try and get the usual pics to aid in diagnosis, but if anyone could shed some light from what i've said that would be great.

there is one odd thing i've seen him do....and that was to mouth some zoa's. i dont think he bit anything off as there is no damage to the zoa but that could be a factor.

till later ........thanks all

melypr1985 · Jun 8, 2016

Hmm.. I reserve judgement until pictures are available. I'd like to see a clown with a mustache

DrayB · Jun 8, 2016

i'd rather not

thought i should add a bit more recent history.
for a while both clowns were hosting a large duncan but about a month or so ago i added a large frogspawn and they made an instant b-line towards that. also my female has been showing signs of black spots but i put that down to stings? no white spot and they eat like the proverbial hog. the pair have been in the tank for just over a year now.

gacolt · Jun 8, 2016

DrayB · Jun 8, 2016

lights are off right now.....will have to be tomorrow

melypr1985 · Jun 8, 2016

DrayB said:
i'd rather not

thought i should add a bit more recent history.
for a while both clowns were hosting a large duncan but about a month or so ago i added a large frogspawn and they made an instant b-line towards that. also my female has been showing signs of black spots but i put that down to stings? no white spot and they eat like the proverbial hog. the pair have been in the tank for just over a year now.

It depends on the black spots honestly.... but it could be considering they just switched hosts. Have the clowns been fighting at all? With each other or any other fish?

DrayB · Jun 8, 2016

no....but since moving into the new frogspawn house they have been doing a lot more of the clown "thang"

i'm wondering if he has overdone a bit of house cleaning and messed up his lip?

melypr1985 · Jun 8, 2016

DrayB said:
no....but since moving into the new frogspawn house they have been doing a lot more of the clown "thang" i'm wondering if he has overdone a bit of house cleaning and messed up his lip?

It's possible. Adding vitamins to his food like Selcon or Vitachem is a good idea just to give his immune system a boost. Keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't get worse. Hopefully he can just heal it up on his own.

Humblefish · Jun 8, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Have the clowns been fighting at all? With each other or any other fish?

^^ This is what I wonder as well, if the two clowns could be locking jaws in combat. Also, look to see where your clowns are sleeping tonight, and whether the one with the "white moustache" is getting hit by a sweeper from the frogspawn.

DrayB · Jun 8, 2016

hi humble

both clowns are IN the frogspawn.....maybe i should look to get a nem for the couple, as for fighting...i see the usual dominant behaviour of the female and the male does his vibrating on his side thing to show submission but nothing different from the usual swimming in unison with each other most of the time.

melypr1985 · Jun 8, 2016

DrayB said:
hi humble both clowns are IN the frogspawn.....maybe i should look to get a nem for the couple, as for fighting...i see the usual dominant behaviour of the female and the male does his vibrating on his side thing to show submission but nothing different from the usual swimming in unison with each other most of the time.

The frogspawn should be a fine home for them. they will build up a resistance to the sting just like they would with a nem. We'll just have to wait for pictures and see what they show us.

Humblefish · Jun 8, 2016

DrayB said:
hi humble both clowns are IN the frogspawn.....maybe i should look to get a nem for the couple, as for fighting...i see the usual dominant behaviour of the female and the male does his vibrating on his side thing to show submission but nothing different from the usual swimming in unison with each other most of the time.

During the day they're fine, it's at night when the sweepers come out ... Like Meredith said, it might take them a little while to build up resistance to the sting.

DrayB · Jun 9, 2016

ok pics are here, not my best but you get the picture (shakes head at pun)

whilst i was watching him today trying to get some shots, i saw that he was doing a lot of rock cleaning just under the frogspawn.

Humblefish · Jun 9, 2016

That could be an infection, but I think it's more likely he's getting stung by something. Or biting on something which is irritating around his mouth. Do you have a vitamin supplement which you can use as a food soak? Do they sell Selcon, Zoecon or Vita-chem in the UK?

DrayB · Jun 9, 2016

I'll have a look tomorrow mate, or see if i can get some stuff from the states. i have some family coming over in a couple of weeks, i may ask them to bring some goodies over for me. i may have to trouble you for a list of essentials for the medic drawer