Is this normal for clownfish fins to ever look like this?

[Tingzalawazoo]

Please help, I am worried this might be the beginning of Brook or fin rot. I desperately need help identifying the issue.

 

[Peace River]

Let's see if we can get some help...

#fishmedic @Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Please help, I am worried this might be the beginning of Brook or fin rot. I desperately need help identifying the issue.

Hi, it could be either issue, or it could be tankmate aggression. More information is helpful - how long you’ve had the fish, any other symptoms, what fish are in with it, etc. A short video would also help. This link explains that:

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[Tingzalawazoo]

Hi, it could be either issue, or it could be tankmate aggression. More information is helpful - how long you’ve had the fish, any other symptoms, what fish are in with it, etc. A short video would also help. This link explains that:

Some Helpful Hints When Posting or Responding to Threads in the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Section

Aquarium Fish Disease Problem Solving Determining the best course of action for a problem with your aquarium can be a difficult task. Even advanced aquarists will often need to seek the help of others for complicated or unique issues. Our intent here on Reef 2 Reef is to offer expert advice...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

Aquarium type: Reef

Aquarium water volume: 22 gallons

Filtration type: Tidal 55 hob, 1.5 hob aquamaxx protein skimmer

Lighting: Two A029 Nano Reef light

Tank has been established for 3 months.

Temperature 76-78

pH: 8.0

Salinity / specific gravity 35.0 ppt

Ammonia: 0

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 0

Calcium: 490

Alkalinity: 8.4

Using read sea test kits for calcium and alkalinity.
And api master test kit for everything else.


Tank occupants: 1 lightning maroon clown, 1 mandarin goby, 1 Aiptasia eating filefish, 1 blood shrimp, 1 conch, several snails. Palys and zoas, Sinularia, fuzzy mushroom, and a rainbow bubble tip anemone that just recently split.


Two smaller snails have died recently a few days apart. The clown is the only fish that looks different. No one is acting strange. Everyone is eating like normal. Breathing is normal. I have never seen any aggression or fin nipping from any of the fish in this tank in my presence.

https://youtube.com/shorts/qAEu6OvF7Z8?feature=share

 

[Tingzalawazoo]

And thank you for the reply

 

[Jay Hemdal]

And thank you for the reply

Sorry for the delay, I just woke up.

I have an alternative idea - it looks like what you are seeing are the fish's fin rays., However, those usually show when the fin integument (the skin between the rays) erodes, leaving the rays themselves sticking out. In this case, the fish's fin integument looks normal, but the fin rays themselves are longer. I suspect that this may not be fin rot, but rather, the fin rays growing longer. That can happen due to genetic issues. These maroon clownfish are very inbred, so that makes some sense. The only thing is - did you see this overnight, or did it develop more slowly, over days?

Jay

 

[Tingzalawazoo]

Thank you Jay! I think it developed slowly. I just found a picture from eight days ago and it’s hard to tell but I think I can see the fin rays starting to get longer. Yesterday was when I fully recognized there was a difference in appearance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I myself thought in the age of designer clowns may be a pattern I have not seen but does not represent damage or rot