2 white spots developed on firefish overnight

[BobTheYeet]

My firefish developed 2 slightly elevated white spots on its side, I'm almost certain they weren't there yesterday so they probably developed in the past 16 hours, behavior is still normal, what could it be? The second one isn't showing up in pictures but its near its underside around the transition between white and orange. None of my other fish have them.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My firefish developed 2 slightly elevated white spots on its side, I'm almost certain they weren't there yesterday so they probably developed in the past 16 hours, behavior is still normal, what could it be? The second one isn't showing up in pictures but its near its underside around the transition between white and orange. None of my other fish have them.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I can see the one larger spot, but I can also see some minor discoloration at the base of the tail, as well as some random pale spots in the orange area. This doesn't look to be marine ich or velvet.

I think more history about the fish would help:

How long have you had the fish?
Is it still eating well?
Who are its tankmates?

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Best of luck with your Firefish!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The tail is looking a bit tattered, what other fish are in the tank?

 

[BobTheYeet]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I can see the one larger spot, but I can also see some minor discoloration at the base of the tail, as well as some random pale spots in the orange area. This doesn't look to be marine ich or velvet.

I think more history about the fish would help:

How long have you had the fish?
Is it still eating well?
Who are its tankmates?

I have had it for only around a few weeks so far, tankmates are another firefish, 2 clownfish, engineer goby, sailfin tang, royal gramma, skunk cleaner shrimp, 5 bubble tip anemones, a large brittle star, various small crabs, snails, and conchs. This is all in a 90 gallon tank, only chemistry that was off was the salinity was at 1.020 for god knows how long and I only just finished slowly raising it to 1.025. It is still eating well and behaving normal.

 

[BobTheYeet]

The tail is looking a bit tattered, what other fish are in the tank?

There is another firefish, 2 clownfish, engineer goby, sailfin tang, royal gramma, and a skunk cleaner shrimp

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

There is another firefish, 2 clownfish, engineer goby, sailfin tang, royal gramma, and a skunk cleaner shrimp

Except for the shrimp, unfortunately they are all possible suspects for bullying. Thats a tough one!

 

[BobTheYeet]

Except for the shrimp, unfortunately they are all possible suspects for bullying. Thats a tough one!

Uh oh :( I have seen some territorial behavior from the royal gramma but besides that all the other seem very mild mannered. Could it be the firefish fighting eachother? I'm asking because in the past I bought a pair of them and one went missing so I got another and it went missing, and then 1 more and it went missing too so I'm assuming the other firefish was killing them. Also are you saying the white spot on it is a wound?

Edit: Oh my god lol I can't believe I never looked this up until now, they totally do kill each other if they aren't a mated pair

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The fish medics are the ones to help with white spots, but the tattered tail is clear to us non-medic folks. I don't know if the 2 are related. Good luck with this.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have had it for only around a few weeks so far, tankmates are another firefish, 2 clownfish, engineer goby, sailfin tang, royal gramma, skunk cleaner shrimp, 5 bubble tip anemones, a large brittle star, various small crabs, snails, and conchs. This is all in a 90 gallon tank, only chemistry that was off was the salinity was at 1.020 for god knows how long and I only just finished slowly raising it to 1.025. It is still eating well and behaving normal.

I'd be worried that the other firefish is causing this - they often do not get along well together. It's weird - in the ocean you can see groups of them living well together, but a pair in an aquarium often fight. That lines up with the lesions that I'm seeing. You may not see them actually fight - when you're in the room, they may be more busy watching you. You can try setting up your phone to video the tank after you leave the room. Or, you can watch both fish to see if they go near each other with no issues, or do they tend to keep apart?

 

[BobTheYeet]

I'd be worried that the other firefish is causing this - they often do not get along well together. It's weird - in the ocean you can see groups of them living well together, but a pair in an aquarium often fight. That lines up with the lesions that I'm seeing. You may not see them actually fight - when you're in the room, they may be more busy watching you. You can try setting up your phone to video the tank after you leave the room. Or, you can watch both fish to see if they go near each other with no issues, or do they tend to keep apart?

They are basically always together in the leftmost side of the tank. I have a gopro I can set to a live feed so I'll do that and try to keep a steady eye on them. If it matters at all, they were in a tank together and looked great when I got them from my LFS.

 

[BobTheYeet]

I'd be worried that the other firefish is causing this - they often do not get along well together. It's weird - in the ocean you can see groups of them living well together, but a pair in an aquarium often fight. That lines up with the lesions that I'm seeing. You may not see them actually fight - when you're in the room, they may be more busy watching you. You can try setting up your phone to video the tank after you leave the room. Or, you can watch both fish to see if they go near each other with no issues, or do they tend to keep apart?

So I looked closer at both firefish's tails and they look perfect, no damage at all, it must have been a bad picture. But I did also spot a smaller white dot on the other firefish's tail. None of the other fish have any spots.

 

[Rocks reef]

I agree with the bullying from the other firefish. Clowns can be very territorial as well protecting their anemone.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So I looked closer at both firefish's tails and they look perfect, no damage at all, it must have been a bad picture. But I did also spot a smaller white dot on the other firefish's tail. None of the other fish have any spots.

Well, if you’ve ruled out aggression, there isn’t much left. Have you seen ANY of the fish flashing or scratching? Flukes are usually invisible, but the way that firefish skin is, you might be seeing visible flukes.

 

[BobTheYeet]

Well, if you’ve ruled out aggression, there isn’t much left. Have you seen ANY of the fish flashing or scratching? Flukes are usually invisible, but the way that firefish skin is, you might be seeing visible flukes.

No I haven't seen that behavior at all, also the spot in the image has gone down a bit but it developed another one on a different part of its body