Black and white clownfish tail issue

falter · Aug 14, 2026

Hi there! I have a black and white clown in QT. We got him a couple of weeks ago. He seemed quite fine, but today I notices whitish patches on both sides of his tail. Can't really see anything on the rest of him. Wondering if I should be worried.

This is what he looked like on the first day we had him.

fishguy242 · Aug 14, 2026

Alone in QT ?
#fishmedic

vetteguy53081 · Aug 14, 2026

falter said:
Hi there! I have a black and white clown in QT. We got him a couple of weeks ago. He seemed quite fine, but today I notices whitish patches on both sides of his tail. Can't really see anything on the rest of him. Wondering if I should be worried.

This is what he looked like on the first day we had him.

Tail looks to have been caught in an object or a fin ray issue. Images are fuzzy but also looks to be slime separation. Still pics under bright white lighting may also be of help

falter · Aug 14, 2026

fishguy242 said:
Alone in QT ?
#fishmedic

He is with a filefish we bought. They were both in same LFS tank.

falter · Aug 14, 2026

vetteguy53081 said:
Tail looks to have been caught in an object or a fin ray issue. Images are fuzzy but also looks to be slime separation. Still pics under bright white lighting may also be of help

I was trying to get some but he never stops moving.

The are the best I could grab. My camera and reflexes are just too slow. :)

Jay Hemdal · Aug 14, 2026

falter said:
I was trying to get some but he never stops moving.

The are the best I could grab. My camera and reflexes are just too slow. :)

That is in a common location for a bite mark. Usually caused by another clownfish, but maybe the filefish took a nip at it.

Did the spot appear overnight/suddenly?
Is it growing in size?

falter · Aug 14, 2026

Jay Hemdal said:
That is in a common location for a bite mark. Usually caused by another clownfish, but maybe the filefish took a nip at it.

Did the spot appear overnight/suddenly?
Is it growing in size?

I didn't notice it until yesterday. I don't think it was there previously. I've been trying to keep an eye on him since I got him, but he moves constantly.