Clownfish coral stings?

[Brad Coughlan]

Are these small black spots on its head coral stings?
Both clowns have them.

 

[MnFish1]

Did you Qt the fish? Any other symptoms? What corals/anemones do you have? Are your parameters ok? There could be a couple reasons for the spots.

 

[Brad Coughlan]

Did you Qt the fish? Any other symptoms? What corals/anemones do you have? Are your parameters ok? There could be a couple reasons for the spots.

No qt, had the clowns for 7 months, parameters are ok besides the nitrate which is a tad bit high, I took all my rock out yesterday to clean hair algae off so they were stressed yesterday. I have also noticed that the female clown and royal gramma have been having a bit of aggresion over territory.

Corals right now are mushrooms, frogspawn, duncan, candy cane, gsp


85l / 20gal tank btw

 

[MnFish1]

No qt, had the clowns for 7 months, parameters are ok besides the nitrate which is a tad bit high, I took all my rock out yesterday to clean hair algae off so they were stressed yesterday. I have also noticed that the female clown and royal gramma have been having a bit of aggresion over territory.

Corals right now are mushrooms, frogspawn, duncan, candy cane, gsp


85l / 20gal tank btw

water quality can have an effect on such spots - and I would,d consider that. (i.e. the nitrates) - I would doubt 'black ich' - which should be self-limited anyway - and not necessarily show up 7 months later. A coral sting is possible! Are the spots changing at all?

 

[Brad Coughlan]

water quality can have an effect on such spots - and I would,d consider that. (i.e. the nitrates) - I would doubt 'black ich' - which should be self-limited anyway - and not necessarily show up 7 months later. A coral sting is possible! Are the spots changing at all?

I only noticed the spots this morning and they haven't changed for a few hours. I have been doing more frequent water changes recently to lower nitrates and phosphates, I will run a nitrate test later and see what it's at, I have been running elavated nitrates for a few weeks now (not saying that it's ideal)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Known as hyper melanization will subside on its own and requires no treatment unless there is skin sores which is not the case
Maybe next time the clown will get lucky and find it’s nem home

 

[Brad Coughlan]

Known as hyper melanization will subside on its own and requires no treatment unless there is skin sores which is not the case
Maybe next time the clown will get lucky and find it’s nem home

Ah ok that's good
Cheers

 

[MnFish1]

Ah ok that's good
Cheers

Agree this is hypermelanization (which means basically black areas) but it can be caused by multiple things. One thing to watch, though, is - they often attempt going back into where they were stung before - and that can cause what would look to be a 'worsening' - and can increase the likelihood of an infection, etc. It's also possible - that they will adapt to whatever stung them - and will just hang out with that coral. If you have some time (like a couple hours lol) - or a webcam - it would be interesting to see if the clowns go to a certain coral, etc. (which they often will). The way clowns eventually 'get along' with their anemone is repeated stings, until their mucus, immune system resists the toxin.

I would be interested in seeing a picture of your tank either way - have you considered a build thread?

 

[Brad Coughlan]

Agree this is hypermelanization (which means basically black areas) but it can be caused by multiple things. One thing to watch, though, is - they often attempt going back into where they were stung before - and that can cause what would look to be a 'worsening' - and can increase the likelihood of an infection, etc. It's also possible - that they will adapt to whatever stung them - and will just hang out with that coral. If you have some time (like a couple hours lol) - or a webcam - it would be interesting to see if the clowns go to a certain coral, etc. (which they often will). The way clowns eventually 'get along' with their anemone is repeated stings, until their mucus, immune system resists the toxin.

I would be interested in seeing a picture of your tank either way - have you considered a build thread?

I have seen other people's, not sure how to list a thread as one though haha

Would it make sense to make one this late into the tank's life, is it something you to log your progress from start to finish?

 

[MnFish1]

I have seen other people's, not sure how to list a thread as one though haha

Would it make sense to make one this late into the tank's life, is it something you to log your progress from start to finish?

You can make it at any time

 

[Brad Coughlan]

You can make it at any time

Ok cool,
will consider this! I'll try get some good pics of the tank later, light has only just came on

 

[kevgib67]

My clowns chose a duncan to host them.

 

[Brad Coughlan]

My clowns chose a duncan to host them.

Wow that's awesome

I wish mine did that, my duncan isn't big enough yet

 

[kevgib67]

Well, if yours grows like mine it won’t take long. The female spends the most time in the duncan. She will dive in, disappear and 20 seconds later swim out from a different spot.

 

[Brad Coughlan]

Well, if yours grows like mine it won’t take long. The female spends the most time in the duncan. She will dive in, disappear and 20 seconds later swim out from a different spot.

I hope so!
I suppose duncans do look like anemones