Sick clownfish with white lesions

[csreed]

Hi everyone,
I've had a pair of clownfish for about a year. A few weeks ago I noticed the smaller one was not hanging out in the frogspawn with his buddy. He's on the other side of the tank in my other frogspawn, otherwise behaving normally, eating, etc.

Yesterday I noticed 2 white, raised lesions on his sides. I thought perhaps the other clownfish had gotten nasty. Today there are more lesions, he's starting to flash, & he's started to do the head twitch I've read about with gill parasites. No other fish seem affected.

I'm waaaay behind on checking my water chemistries & doing a water change. I do run act charcoal & phosban along with a skimmer, although all are due to be changed.

I've attached photos. My LFS doesn't carry medications, so I'm a few days out to get things through Amazon. I'll do a freshwater dip tonight if I can catch him, for the presumptive gill parasites. Any clue on the white lesions? I don't think it's ich (and I've got a basselet who hasn't come down with it) & it doesn't look slimy like velvet...

Thank you!! Medication suggestions please!

Cynthia

 

[melypr1985]

Hi everyone,
I've had a pair of clownfish for about a year. A few weeks ago I noticed the smaller one was not hanging out in the frogspawn with his buddy. He's on the other side of the tank in my other frogspawn, otherwise behaving normally, eating, etc.

Yesterday I noticed 2 white, raised lesions on his sides. I thought perhaps the other clownfish had gotten nasty. Today there are more lesions, he's starting to flash, & he's started to do the head twitch I've read about with gill parasites. No other fish seem affected.

I'm waaaay behind on checking my water chemistries & doing a water change. I do run act charcoal & phosban along with a skimmer, although all are due to be changed.

I've attached photos. My LFS doesn't carry medications, so I'm a few days out to get things through Amazon. I'll do a freshwater dip tonight if I can catch him, for the presumptive gill parasites. Any clue on the white lesions? I don't think it's ich (and I've got a basselet who hasn't come down with it) & it doesn't look slimy like velvet...

Thank you!! Medication suggestions please!

Cynthia

Hi Cynthia! I'm sorry about your clownfish. I don't see any pictures though.. can you try to attach them again?

 

[ebushrow]

Photo available? #humblefish

 

[csreed]

I hope these photos come through. Let me know if they don't!

 

[melypr1985]

I hope these photos come through. Let me know if they don't!

I see them. That certainly doesn't look like ick at all. Could be lymph, but it looks a little different from that as well. Possibly an infection of some sort. Let's call in back up for this one. @Humblefish
The freshwater dip won't hurt at all and is a good idea. Go ahead and do that and post the results for us and we'll see what we can do for him.

 

[Humblefish]

I'm wondering if he's getting stung by your other frogspawn. However, the head twitching thing could be flukes or parasites in the gills. I would do the FW dip as suggested by Meredith to check for flukes: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree it looks like it was stung or stabbed by a tang - flukes may also be involved but that doesn't look like fluke damage.

 

[csreed]

I do have a fox face, although they seem to leave each other alone.

 

[4FordFamily]

I do have a fox face, although they seem to leave each other alone.

I feel like a fox face sting would have killed the clownfish, so I would personally rule that unlikely.

Any shrimp or lobsters?

 

[csreed]

No, none. I do have a yellow tang who can be pretty pushy...

 

[Humblefish]

No, none. I do have a yellow tang who can be pretty pushy...

That would do it. I haven't kept a YT in years because they always turn into a jerk fish.

 

[4FordFamily]

That would do it. I haven't kept a YT in years because they always turn into a jerk fish.

Yup my money is on a stab wound from a YT

 

[csreed]

Thanks everyone. So far the clown is doing ok, although I'm watching his wounds carefully.

Do you think this is going to be a behavior pattern for the tang? Does he have to go? [emoji853]

 

[Humblefish]

Do you think this is going to be a behavior pattern for the tang? Does he have to go? [emoji853]

Once they turn mean it usually stays that way. Only way to possibly alleviate aggression is to place him in a larger tank.

 

[csreed]

[emoji28]. It's a 200 gallon...

 

[csreed]

If I get a bigger tank for him it's going to come with a divorce on the side!

 

[Humblefish]

If I get a bigger tank for him it's going to come with a divorce on the side!

HA! I hear that!

 

[csreed]

Thanks everyone, for sharing your wisdom & experience!