What do we have now...

Christopher Davis · Feb 28, 2018

I have had a pair of onyx percula for about 2 months now, they seem to be healthy and eating very well. I noticed with the blues on today whitish swollen lips, could they have picked on each other? They are defiantly a maited pair. Could this be Something minor? Or could it just be stings from the anemones? Note the fish have been in the anemones for almost a month now.

The black spots looks to be minor Hypermelonization.

Do I need to bust the QT back out? What am I dealing with?

I have kanaplex, metroplex, focus, formalin and malcite green, cipro, quick cure, and prazi on hand.

EmdeReef · Feb 28, 2018

My first guess, assuming no other symptoms, would be the nem. Sometimes they can also be a bit too enthusiastic about prepping their spawning grounds...

Is there any growth from the mouth or the area looks discolored but smooth? (I can’t see any in pics ex pic no2 but could be background) Any mucus around the head or anywhere else? (doesn’t look like it in pics). Are they acting normal? white poop? rapid breathing or anything unusual?

Christopher Davis · Feb 28, 2018

No

EmdeReef said:
My first guess, assuming no other symptoms, would be the nem. Sometimes they can also be a bit too enthusiastic about prepping their spawning grounds...

Is there any growth from the mouth or the area looks discolored but smooth? (I can’t see any in pics ex pic no2 but could be background) Any mucus around the head or anywhere else? (doesn’t look like it in pics). Are they acting normal? white poop? rapid breathing or anything unusual?

signs of white mucus anywhere no stringy poop, it looks smooth just discolored, the female breaths rapidly but she has sense day one getting to me. Could be the flow? I have her in an sos dominate tank with 90x turnover an hour in a 75! I mean it’s moving...
No dots if ick. They are biting the rocks and what looks to be scratching or rubbing the rocks? Could it be that they are trying to lay? I never considered that possibility... both fish are extremely active not lethargic at all.

They are going absolutely anemone crazy! Rubbing darting in and out, sucking on tentacles... that sounds awful... lol. They are what I would call very aggressive hosters.

EmdeReef · Feb 28, 2018

Christopher Davis said:
No

signs of white mucus anywhere no stringy poop, it looks smooth just discolored, the female breaths rapidly but she has sense day one getting to me. Could be the flow? I have her in an sos dominate tank with 90x turnover an hour in a 75! I mean it’s moving...
No dots if ick. They are biting the rocks and what looks to be scratching or rubbing the rocks? Could it be that they are trying to lay? I never considered that possibility... both fish are extremely active not lethargic at all.

They are going absolutely anemone crazy! Rubbing darting in and out, sucking on tentacles... that sounds awful... lol. They are what I would call very aggressive hosters.

A stressed nem can sting clowns. The body is usually well protected but the lips wouldn’t have the same mucus. The sting is initially harmless but unfortunately the clowns won’t get the message and repeated stings could lead to infections.

IMO the flow would affect their swimming rather than breathing. Swimming near rocks is generally normal but if it looks like scratching then something to be watched.

The only quick and dangerous issue that I can think of that may start around the mouth and result in discoloration would be brooklynella. Keep an eye out for any changes. There seems to be a white dot on the closer clown’s head in the pic?