Should I be concerned?

[reeflover]

I got this clownfish almost a month ago. Since then he has been eating great (only pellets, will take mysis but isn’t a huge fan). He has had these 2 marks on him when I got him, they were a tad smaller, but the fish as a whole has grown quite a bit since I got him. I am thinking it may just be a scale issue from breeding as opposed to a parasite, but I am by no means an expert. In the photo and somewhat in person the marks seem almost fluorescent. In person it does not look as red as the photo shows it. I have seen him itch one side of his head in the sand twice over the past few weeks, but other than that has been acting relatively normal. So I am just wondering if I should be concerned about this? No signs of ich, doesn’t appear to be brook, any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Big G]

You might want to consider doing a freshwater dip to eliminate or confirm the possibility of flukes causing those areas of concern.

 

[reeflover]

You might want to consider doing a freshwater dip to eliminate or confirm the possibility of flukes causing those areas of concern.

Thank you! I just did a freshwater dip, and he did very well. I think it was more stressful trying to catch him...I dont think I saw anything in the bottom of the container, MAYBE a small white spec or 2, but that’s questionable. Definitely nothing big like I was expecting to see based off the research I did. He didn’t eat at all today which is unusual. He spent most of the day in the lower flow areas of the tank which is also slightly unusual for him. Hoping that maybe he just isn’t hungry and is having a lazy day? I guess I’ll just chalk it up to him acting how clowns act and just give him time unless anyone has any other ideas?

 

[Big G]

Ok, well the next possible issue could be some sort of a bacterial infection thats causing the discoloration and maybe the lack of hunger too. Watch those areas to see if they grow, increasing white filmy material, red-ness, black spots, and or necrosis.

 

[reeflover]

Update: finally ate for me this morning. His appetite seems like it’s come back close to what it was prior. However, I did notice 2 areas of his tail fin, one area looks like a small slit, the other I can’t tell if it’s a spot or another rip. There is a new high fin goby in the tank but he stays in his burrow and doesn’t cause any issues with the clown so I’m almost positive it’s not caused by aggression. I have also noticed him itching his head still-maybe a couple times a day and he does this twitch thing where his whole body with twitch a few times as he’s swimming.