Fading Fin Color - New Clownfish

[joeytosmooth]

Hey folks
I’ve noticed a small tear on the back of one of my clowns, I thought this was normal as they were both young and had just started fighting over dominance; but then I noticed the black color on his fins was beginning to fade.

Tank Facts
~6 weeks old
Introduced clowns 1 week ago
13.5 Gal Tank
Asters Snails (3)
Blue Legged Hermits (3)
Conch Snail
Acceptable water parameters; Nitrates a bit high
Currently a bunch of diatoms growing

he is the weaker clown in the relationship, and they were fighting pretty bad the day before I noticed his torn fin. He’s still eating fine and clowning around. What’s weird is the color loss isn’t just on the damaged fin, and the color loss on the other fins is just color loss, no damage.

his other half seems very healthy; so I don’t wanna say it’s something with my tank. I guess I’m asking
1. Should I be concerned
2. If I should; I want to act asap and not wait to see if it develops. Is there a downside free way of medicating for this if it turns out to be nothing?

 

[joeytosmooth]

I plan on doing the following:
Mid Week Water Change
Clean Gravel

 

[MnFish1]

This is a great post - thanks for the pictures - and the information:

1. is the damaged (and the other) eating normally?
2. I assume you measured ammonia, etc (which can look like fin damage)
3. Was the fish Quarantined?
4. I think I see the area you're talking about - but could you post a photo - with an arrow pointing to the specific area?

Answering - it could be fighting - pairing - was this bought as a pair - or 2 clowns in a tank? If a pair there is normally some tussling. If its not a pair there can be a lot more.

Watch for bloody streaks - or any lesions on the skin (that can suggest brooklynella).

 

[joeytosmooth]

Thanks for the quick reply,
I’ve attached a slightly marked up image. Red arrow points towards fin damage, green towards receding black color, but as you can see no fin damage?

1a. Yep they’re together each time they eat.
2a. I did however I’m having a bit of a testing crisis. Seachem badge says <0.2ppm API test says .5 ppm repeatedly unaffected by water change. So I’m relying on the badge and assumptions based of 0ppm nitrites, and growing nitrates. My tank could previously process 4PPM ammonia in about a week before I added inverts, then my clowns.
3a.No I did not this is my first tank. There were no other fish in the tank and these fish were purchased in the same tank.

These were not purchased as an established pair but I’ve been visiting for about 2 weeks and they were always together. After a few days in my tank and me getting a proper lighting schedule I came home to them fighting. Then the one who is currently injured did the whole male fish lays on its side and flops around while the female checks on him to see if he’s still doing it.

 

[MnFish1]

There iis no way IMHO - to differentiate between apI and the other test except for error. . I would tend to trust the badge - because the API ammonia test is prone to error. unless you notice skin damage - which might be brookylnella - or tome other symptom - I would 'wait it out'

 

[joeytosmooth]

Picture update
The back fin appears to be healing well
It seems like there is more pigment loss

I don’t know if I’m being optimistic but from the images he doesn’t seem to be losing fins but just the color

 

[joeytosmooth]

He found a nice hiding spot. He was also very quick to eat today like usual.

 

[joeytosmooth]

Fin has healed quite a bit. I don’t see any further color loss.


Sorry if I shouldn’t keep bumping I figured it would be good to document progression /recovery