Raised White Spikes?

[Variant]

I recently put a pair of clownfish I have had for almosy 2 years in a newly cycled tank. They came from a temporary bin with other wrasses and a tang.

To that poiny none of the fish had health issues. That said after putting my two clowns in the new tank they started to develop qhite spots on their body. In looking closer the white dots were more spike like. Almost as if they were white thorns on their body.

Additionally one of the clown's eye is swollen (guessing pop eye).

I am wondering what the white spikes on their body is. They were happy before the transfer and even spawned for the first time...

 

[JGT]

I recently put a pair of clownfish I have had for almosy 2 years in a newly cycled tank. They came from a temporary bin with other wrasses and a tang.

To that poiny none of the fish had health issues. That said after putting my two clowns in the new tank they started to develop qhite spots on their body. In looking closer the white dots were more spike like. Almost as if they were white thorns on their body.

Additionally one of the clown's eye is swollen (guessing pop eye).

I am wondering what the white spikes on their body is. They were happy before the transfer and even spawned for the first time...

Pics would help.

 

[Variant]

Pics would help.

Was literally editing one in PS

 

[JGT]

Was literally editing one in PS

Are those just on his mouth or elsewhere as well.

 

[Variant]

Are those just on his mouth or elsewhere as well.

They are elsewhere. When you look at the fish straight on then you can see that they are thorn like.

Can we rule out whether this is ich?

Also I have not obersved any itching behavior.

 

[JGT]

They are elsewhere. When you look at the fish straight on then you can see that they are thorn like.

Can we rule out whether this is ich?

Also I have not obersved any itching behavior.

Looks to be ich.

 

[Variant]

Looks to be ich.

I thought ich on fish was supposed to be under their skin not protruding outwards? Or maybe I am misinformed.

 

[JGT]

I thought ich on fish was supposed to be under their skin not protruding outwards? Or maybe I am misinformed.

No, ich is a parasite on the outside of the fish. In a few days they will fall off and grow and then enter the water column and attach to other fish. Then the cycle will continue.

 

[Variant]

No, ich is a parasite on the outside of the fish. In a few days they will fall off and grow and then enter the water column and attach to other fish. Then the cycle will continue.

How long do they stay on the fish? I swear these spots have been on the fish for a week by now?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Give the fish a freshwater dip and treat daily for 5-7 days with a formalin bath in a clean pail or bucket.
General cure should work well

 

[Variant]

Give the fish a freshwater dip and treat daily for 5-7 days with a formalin bath in a clean pail or bucket.
General cure should work well

What is this curing for exactly?

 

[vetteguy53081]

What is this curing for exactly?

Looks like slime coat separation and possible brook. Any stress can, and will, impact the protective coating of the fish such as:
Low O2 levels, or temperature changes
Elevated toxins (such as chlorine, ammonia) in the water which will reduce the protective slime coat
Changes in water composition, such as with salinity, pH or hardness can also contributie to slime coat damage.

 

[Variant]

Looks like slime coat separation and possible brook. Any stress can, and will, impact the protective coating of the fish such as:
Low O2 levels, or temperature changes
Elevated toxins (such as chlorine, ammonia) in the water which will reduce the protective slime coat
Changes in water composition, such as with salinity, pH or hardness can also contributie to slime coat damage.

Gotcha....

Yeah it must be stress related after being chased in a bin, netted and then dumped in a newly cycled tank. The pop eye on one eye might corroborate this.

 

[JGT]

How long do they stay on the fish? I swear these spots have been on the fish for a week by now?

https://blog.marinedepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Ich-infographic.jpg

 

[Variant]

@Humblefish do you think this is ich?

 

[Variant]

@Jay Hemdal thoughts on this one?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I recently put a pair of clownfish I have had for almosy 2 years in a newly cycled tank. They came from a temporary bin with other wrasses and a tang.

To that poiny none of the fish had health issues. That said after putting my two clowns in the new tank they started to develop qhite spots on their body. In looking closer the white dots were more spike like. Almost as if they were white thorns on their body.

Additionally one of the clown's eye is swollen (guessing pop eye).

I am wondering what the white spikes on their body is. They were happy before the transfer and even spawned for the first time...

Those are mucus being extruded from pores in the fish’s skin, think the kids toy playdoh factory (grin). Normally, seeing just a few doesn’t cause me any concern, but to see this many on multiple fish is concerning. As said, it is a reaction to some irritation. Ich can cause this, as can brooklynella. It can also be idiopathic. If the fish are eating well, not breathing fast, and the spots are not moving around day to day, I would say just watch it. The Popeye is possibly from getting bumped during the move. I’m on my phone and may have missed it, but did you take any full bodied pictures?
Jay

 

[Variant]

Those are mucus being extruded from pores in the fish’s skin, think the kids toy playdoh factory (grin). Normally, seeing just a few doesn’t cause me any concern, but to see this many on multiple fish is concerning. As said, it is a reaction to some irritation. Ich can cause this, as can brooklynella. It can also be idiopathic. If the fish are eating well, not breathing fast, and the spots are not moving around day to day, I would say just watch it. The Popeye is possibly from getting bumped during the move. I’m on my phone and may have missed it, but did you take any full bodied pictures?
Jay

Here is a picture with more of its body shown. Notethat the white spots are pointed outwards like thorns on its body. You can find this on its body and fins as well.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The spots on the fins point more towards ich, as there are not mucus pores on the fins like there are on the body and around the mouth. IMO this fish should be treated with a full dose of copper....

Jay

 

[Variant]

The spots on the fins point more towards ich, as there are not mucus pores on the fins like there are on the body and around the mouth. IMO this fish should be treated with a full dose of copper....

Jay

The spots on the fins point more towards ich, as there are not mucus pores on the fins like there are on the body and around the mouth. IMO this fish should be treated with a full dose of copper....

Jay

Just for my own learning... are white spots from ich more bump like or thorn like? Also... does copper treat foe things besides ich?

I have a few fish that came from the same tank as these clowns and I would like to know if and what I need to treat them for profilactically.