Clownfish fin rot?

[sella]

We got two mocha clownfish from our LFS and after getting them home became a little concerned about their fins. These are the first clownfish (and saltwater fish in general) that we've had. Do they look okay or do they need treatment? In most places it looks like the pigment is lighter on the tips but fin is still there, but I don't know if that's normal.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

We got two mocha clownfish from our LFS and after getting them home became a little concerned about their fins. These are the first clownfish (and saltwater fish in general) that we've had. Do they look okay or do they need treatment? In most places it looks like the pigment is lighter on the tips but fin is still there, but I don't know if that's normal.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That fin damage looks like tankmate aggression. You need to try and determine who is attacking who. That issue can turn into "fin rot" if the damage becomes infected by bacteria.

 

[sella]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

That fin damage looks like tankmate aggression. You need to try and determine who is attacking who. That issue can turn into "fin rot" if the damage becomes infected by bacteria.

Oh no! The store employee said they'd been together in their tank for about a month and was selling them as a pair only. They swim together a lot. I haven't witnessed any nipping yet but it's only been a couple hours. Would I need to separate them if one is attacking?

The first picture is the smaller fish and the second picture is of the larger fish, so they both have some possible damage.

 

[vetteguy53081]

We got two mocha clownfish from our LFS and after getting them home became a little concerned about their fins. These are the first clownfish (and saltwater fish in general) that we've had. Do they look okay or do they need treatment? In most places it looks like the pigment is lighter on the tips but fin is still there, but I don't know if that's normal.

Thanks in advance!

Next time you feed fish, set your cell phone on video mode for about 40 mins and drop a little food and walk away - YOU MUST walk away as they know youre there. Often the aggressor is a bully at feeding time.
Review the video and see who it may be

 

[sella]

Next time you feed fish, set your cell phone on video mode for about 40 mins and drop a little food and walk away - YOU MUST walk away as they know youre there. Often the aggressor is a bully at feeding time.
Review the video and see who it may be

Okay thank you. I'll try that tomorrow!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh no! The store employee said they'd been together in their tank for about a month and was selling them as a pair only. They swim together a lot. I haven't witnessed any nipping yet but it's only been a couple hours. Would I need to separate them if one is attacking?

The first picture is the smaller fish and the second picture is of the larger fish, so they both have some possible damage.

If you only had them a couple of hours, could the fin damage have happened at the store?

 

[sella]

If you only had them a couple of hours, could the fin damage have happened at the store?

Yeah it most likely did. I wasn't sure if I should do anything to treat it or just wait and see how it goes.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yeah it most likely did. I wasn't sure if I should do anything to treat it or just wait and see how it goes.

If the amount of fin damage increases, or it changes color (white or red) that can indicate a secondary bacterial infection.

Any treatment would require a hospital tank. then, you would dose it with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex of Kanaplex.

 

[sella]

If the amount of fin damage increases, or it changes color (white or red) that can indicate a secondary bacterial infection.

Any treatment would require a hospital tank. then, you would dose it with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex of Kanaplex.

Okay thank you!