Ick or Brook?

rmcrom · Mar 20, 2022

Both of my clownfish have developed these white spots overnight. No other fish have any spots. It seems like it could be either Ick or Brook. The fish are not showing any behavioral differences yet. No scratching or anything. Can you tell what it is?

Jay Hemdal · Mar 20, 2022

rmcrom said:
Both of my clownfish have developed these white spots overnight. No other fish have any spots. It seems like it could be either Ick or Brook. The fish are not showing any behavioral differences yet. No scratching or anything. Can you tell what it is?

How long have you had these fish?
Have they tried hosting anything new, like a coral?

Ich has more discrete spots and they are usually randomly spread out. Brooklynella often starts on the back of the fish and starts off more like a white "sheet" or haze.

Jay

rmcrom · Mar 20, 2022

I have had these fish for a little over a year. I have not seen them hosting anything. They tend to stay in a particular corner of the tank as their "home". I have noticed these white spots look kind of large compared to other pictures I have seen of Ick and Brook.

Jay Hemdal · Mar 20, 2022

rmcrom said:
I have had these fish for a little over a year. I have not seen them hosting anything. They tend to stay in a particular corner of the tank as their "home". I have noticed these white spots look kind of large compared to other pictures I have seen of Ick and Brook.

If you haven't added anything "wet" to the tank recently, it is unlikely then, that ich or especially Brooklynella would just pop up like that.

It could just be mucus:

Mucus - The Slime That Binds

Mucus: The Slime that Binds Jay Hemdal C. 2020 This article examines the various causes of excess mucus coatings on fish, as well as fecal mucus issues. ------------------- The mucus produced by the fish’s epidermal cells gives them their...

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