Clowns with black spots

[swannyson7]

A couple months ago I got a pair of aquacultured Arafura Percula clowns and over the past month or so, they've begun to get black spots all over their bodies, especially on the male. I've heard of hyper-melanization being caused from hosting various corals such as euphyllia and zoas, but they don't seem to be hosting anything. At night, they seems to hide underneath a leng sy cap that's attached to the back glass, but I've never seen them "host" anything per se. I don't suspect that it's any sort of disease because they're acting normally and eating well. The spots on the male are multiplying much faster than on the female to the point that he almost looks like an onyx at this point. They were purchased as juveniles and are still relatively small (male around 1" and female about 1.5") so I'm wondering if it could just be the way that they gain the black coloration as they mature? I'll try to snap a couple pics tomorrow, but does anyone have any ideas on what it could be in the meantime?

 

[GeoHawk]

I had small black spots on a pair of clowns a couple years ago. They were parasites, kind of like black ich. They eventually just went away on there own, and I never saw them again. I was told that you can do a fresh water dip and the spots will fall off, but I never did it. The fish never seemed to be bugged by the black spots. Not sure if this is what you have or not, but just thought I would share my experience.

 

[KLR]

My occ. pair did this,they are now solid black with orange bellies,fins,and faces,nothing else. They are acting fine though. Im not sure what caused it.

 

[LPAJ5280]

picture?

 

[Troylee]

My male snocasso had one near the tail when I got him it's been like 2 months and it's going away now barely can notice... I just kept them well fed.. Btw they always acted normal also I think the female might have bit him if anything.. Maybe the case in yours also, I see my female go after him at least once a day..

 

[JasonPG]

hypermelanization. harmless. they are brushing against frogspawn or zoas in your tank and developing the appropriate slime coat before hosting.