Possible injury or disease?

[Nacojohn]

Have a pair of mocha storm clownfish for 3 weeks in my QT tank. Noticed today one of them has a line of irritation along the brown spot on his back. No other spots aside from these in a perfect line. I’m thinking just a scratch, but don’t want to assume and be wrong.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That is the fish’s lateral line. Looks like it could be a bit inflamed, check the opposite side of the fish, you should see a similar, but less pronounced line. Head and Lateral Line erosion is one possibility, but that is very rare in clownfish. The lateral line does have pores that open to the water, so could be a site of infection.

Jay

 

[Nacojohn]

That is the fish’s lateral line. Looks like it could be a bit inflamed, check the opposite side of the fish, you should see a similar, but less pronounced line. Head and Lateral Line erosion is one possibility, but that is very rare in clownfish. The lateral line does have pores that open to the water, so could be a site of infection.

Jay

Yes, other side is a little less pronounced. This is my QT tank and it had to cycle with the fish in it. Could be extra stress from that? Do you know of good treatment for this?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Are you currently treating it for anything? Are the two clowns getting along ok?
Jay

 

[Nacojohn]

This fish has had white stringy poop so I have treated them with metroplex. The tank is almost cycled. Today is day 6 of using microbacter start ammonia is 0ppm, nitrates and nitrites still elevated. Just treated metroplex to the tank today because they were not eating the food when mixed with focus/garlic...

 

[Nacojohn]

Getting along just fine

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Getting along just fine

I’d not treat for that issue, antibiotics might upset your cycle, and it seems pretty superficial.
Jay

 

[Nacojohn]

So wait on treating the tank right now, until after the tank is completely cycled? I didn’t know that could be a problem. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Lateral line erosion. Associated with water quality and diet.
What is your tank salinity and temperature?
Ammonia and nitrate level ?
Feed at minimum:
Formula 1 flake and frozen.
LRS fish frenzy
Mysis shrimp
Small plankton
Spirulina brine shrimp

add garlic extract to its food 2-3x per week

 

[Nacojohn]

Unfortunately the tank is cycling. It’s close to being finished. New to the hobby and just set up my QT 4 weeks ago. I’ve been using microbacter start to exposure this process for 1 week.

I plan to do a water change once cycle is completed

temp 78
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrites 1ppm
Nitrates 40ppm

 

[Nacojohn]

*expedite