What's on my clowns face?

[mike croft]

Not sure what' wrong with my clown. He seems fine and all my other fish seem fine. I noticed my clowns face was looking kinda scrathed up about two weeks ago and has been slowly getting worse. It has became very nasty looking yesterday and today. Any ideas?

 

[william.sting]

There appears to be thread like objects attached to the fishes face. Is this so? And do they look similar in appearance like perhaps an organism, or is this from damage to the skin such as a wound?

 

[Tahoe61]

Looks like a go with a bristleworm. My black and white clown used to do the same. In 3 days she would be fine with no evidence of spines.

 

[Reef Stu]

My first thought was, looks like a dog that went after a porcupine. Second thought was bristle worm.

 

[mike croft]

There appears to be thread like objects attached to the fishes face. Is this so? And do they look similar in appearance like perhaps an organism, or is this from damage to the skin such as a wound?

It kind of looks like stuff is stuck to its face. It looks pretty damaged to me.

 

[william.sting]

It looks like a type of worn or similar multicellular parasite. Some parasitic crustaceans can look like that too.

Could your fish game been exposed to anything?

 

[mike croft]

Looks like a go with a bristleworm. My black and white clown used to do the same. In 3 days she would be fine with no evidence of spines.

My wife was thinking bristleworms too. Seems to be the most logical explanation. Thanks for the input!

 

[mike croft]

My first thought was, looks like a dog that went after a porcupine. Second thought was bristle worm.

Haha! For sure! I'm hoping it's just a bristleworm.

 

[mike croft]

It looks like a type of worn or similar multicellular parasite. Some parasitic crustaceans can look like that too.

Could your fish game been exposed to anything?

Got a few damsels from petco about a month ago. They all seem fine. A couple of the damsels vanished right off the bat but I'm guessing it was hungry nems.

 

[melypr1985]

That is most definitely evidence of contact with a bristleworm. He should be just fine, but keep an eye on him for signs of infection.

 

[william.sting]

Almost seem like clowns in particular are especially lacking in common seems - Llke little cartoon chicken hawks.

 

[Humblefish]

That is most definitely evidence of contact with a bristleworm. He should be just fine, but keep an eye on him for signs of infection.

+1 A Methylene Blue or Acriflavine bath wouldn’t be a bad idea, to help him heal.

 

[Tahoe61]

Almost seem like clowns in particular are especially lacking in common seems - Llke little cartoon chicken hawks.

They are viscous killers do not let the name fool you. ;Nailbiting

 

[mike croft]

That is most definitely evidence of contact with a bristleworm. He should be just fine, but keep an eye on him for signs of infection.

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[mike croft]

+1 A Methylene Blue or Acriflavine bath wouldn’t be a bad idea, to help him heal.

Copy that! Will do.

 

[Holy_makerel]

My orchid dottyback had a run in with a bristle worm recently. Looked like a dog that scrapped with a porcupine. After a few days it was fine. Hopefully learned a lesson haha. Good luck with your clown!