Clownfish have Spots? Stings?

[gemini9]

I recently added some corals to the tank. Armor of God, Eagle Eyes, Eye of Rah, Blue Mushroom and some other zoa with a penk center. Around the same time, just a few days later, I noticed some spots on my two clownfish. More like dark spots, not black. They are not raised either, that I can tell. In doing some reading, they sound like stings. I read that when clowns try to host with corals, they can get stung. But I've never seen either of these two clowns wander around any of the corals. I also have a Haiti Condy Anenome, but that has been in the tank for abou 4 months and the clowns have never payed any attention to it. Do zoas sting? They are pretty small tho and I haven't seen my clowns pay any attention to any of them. From what I've read and pictures I've seen, it really does look like stings. Should I be worried?

 

[Munch]

Any frogspawn in your tank?

 

[sherita]

I can't tell you what the spots are, but I can tell you that zoas don't sting. I know that doesn't help much, but at least you can eliminate them as a suspect.

 

[gemini9]

No frogspawn. Just the zoas, a Xenia cluster and that condy that has never been bothered. My clowns don't even hang out near the bottom of the tank. they are always toward the top or in the middle. Never in or around the rock work or anything. I'll get a picture up tomorrow if I can get them to stay still lol

 

[Trex]

Sounds like a coral sting --- and zoas can cause those on clowns. A picture would be helpful.

See if they clowns are trying to be hosted by any of your corals.

 

[Scubafrog]

My clowns also developed dark spots after adding zoas to my tank. They seem healthy. Eating and swimming normally.

 

[46gReef]

I would suspect the condy if anything, I know you haven't seen the clowns near it but there's a lot that goes on in our reefs when we aren't looking! I wouldn't rule the condy out just because you haven't seen it.

 

[gemini9]

I tried to get a picture. It's not the best in coloring but you can see the spots on her. Mostly under her dorsal fin as you can see. I haven't see any of my clowns anywhere near any of my corals at all. They swim well, their appetite is fine. They seem perfectly okay except for those spots. I have a firefish and yellow tailed blue damsel, both of which have no spots. Just the clowns.

 

[Dalmatia]

The black spots are from a clownish hosting a coral. He should get used to the stings and develop an immunity

 

[Dalmatia]

Anyways looks like coral stings

 

[Pumbooris]

My clowns get this when the aptasias in the tank they are in get big and out of control

 

[gar732]

I'd say it's hypermelinization from a coral sting. It's nothing to worry about.

 

[gemini9]

Stings. That's what I was thinking as well, but what has me confused is that I don't have many corals in there. And the ones I do have a new and just small polyps (zoas). If my clowns are trying to host, maybe I should get a anenome for them? What's a good anemone? I may order one in a few weeks. I was actually looking into getting a Sebae.

 

[Scubafrog]

One of my clowns looks like yours but darker and with more spots. It seems to be the dominant one. I only have small zoas as well. No euphyllia type coral that they would try to host. They do sleep and wiggle on the sand.

A bubble tip anemone is probably the easiest and most common amemone for beginners. I have one being delivered Wednesday. I'm hoping that my lighting will be sufficient.

I'll try to get a picture of my clown with all the black spots.

 

[Dalmatia]

I'd go with the bta, sebae is harder to keep

 

[Trex]

One of my clowns looks like yours but darker and with more spots. It seems to be the dominant one. I only have small zoas as well. No euphyllia type coral that they would try to host. They do sleep and wiggle on the sand.

A bubble tip anemone is probably the easiest and most common amemone for beginners. I have one being delivered Wednesday. I'm hoping that my lighting will be sufficient.

I'll try to get a picture of my clown with all the black spots.

What size tank? What lights?

 

[Scubafrog]

29G Biocube with stock lighting.

 

[Scubafrog]

Here are some pictures of mine. Not the best as the spots are easier to see in person.

 

[gemini9]

heeeey your little clowns look just like mine. Are those true or false perculas? I've never been able to properly ID mine lol. Store said they are true, but I duno. Looks like you have the same spots as me.

 

[Scubafrog]

Mine are ocellaris clowns (false percula). I was going to buy more expensive clowns but decided to go with the cheaper ocellaris from my LFS as this is my first SW tank.