New clownfish gets white spot

ThomasNanoReefer

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Hi,

About three months ago I bought a new small clownfish online for my single female clownfish (her partner died more than a year ago). When it arrived it looked a bit dull due to a light slimy coat. I was a bit worried but it seemed to diminish over time and the fish was always very active and eating normally. Last week I noticed that its tail was damaged. I assumed it got bitten by the female clownfish (they are not fully bonded yet, as they rarely sleep together). I have a nano and the clownfish are the only fish (I do have a porcelain crab, 3 sexy shrimp and 2 small hermit crabs). Today I noticed a white spot, just above its eye... Is this something to be worried about and requires attention?

Regards,
Thomas

PS: in order to get the photographs I gave them cyclops, so the white spot on the eye is the only spot on the fish itself.

IMG_20240302_092801.jpg IMG_20240302_093146.jpg IMG_20240302_092727.jpg IMG_20240302_092829.jpg IMG_20240302_093222.jpg
 

vetteguy53081

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Hi,

About three months ago I bought a new small clownfish online for my single female clownfish (her partner died more than a year ago). When it arrived it looked a bit dull due to a light slimy coat. I was a bit worried but it seemed to diminish over time and the fish was always very active and eating normally. Last week I noticed that its tail was damaged. I assumed it got bitten by the female clownfish (they are not fully bonded yet, as they rarely sleep together). I have a nano and the clownfish are the only fish (I do have a porcelain crab, 3 sexy shrimp and 2 small hermit crabs). Today I noticed a white spot, just above its eye... Is this something to be worried about and requires attention?

Regards,
Thomas

PS: in order to get the photographs I gave them cyclops, so the white spot on the eye is the only spot on the fish itself.

IMG_20240302_092801.jpg IMG_20240302_093146.jpg IMG_20240302_092727.jpg IMG_20240302_092829.jpg IMG_20240302_093222.jpg
The amount of slime on the body suggest brooklynella and often affects wild caught vlowns
Fish will have to be treated in a separate quarantine tank with ruby rally pro or formalin based med which is harder to come by
A 60 minute ruby rally bath would be a good start
For temporary relief, you can give the fish a 5 minute freshwater dip, same temperature as display tank until you acquire meds
What other fish are in the tank with it?
Tail may be from aggression
 
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ThomasNanoReefer

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Thanks for your reply! There is one other clownfish (older female) in the tank, no other fish. I was suspecting her, but now that the white spot appeared I was not sure any more... I will look into brooklynella and quarantine time.
 

Jay Hemdal

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Hi,

About three months ago I bought a new small clownfish online for my single female clownfish (her partner died more than a year ago). When it arrived it looked a bit dull due to a light slimy coat. I was a bit worried but it seemed to diminish over time and the fish was always very active and eating normally. Last week I noticed that its tail was damaged. I assumed it got bitten by the female clownfish (they are not fully bonded yet, as they rarely sleep together). I have a nano and the clownfish are the only fish (I do have a porcelain crab, 3 sexy shrimp and 2 small hermit crabs). Today I noticed a white spot, just above its eye... Is this something to be worried about and requires attention?

Regards,
Thomas

PS: in order to get the photographs I gave them cyclops, so the white spot on the eye is the only spot on the fish itself.

IMG_20240302_092801.jpg IMG_20240302_093146.jpg IMG_20240302_092727.jpg IMG_20240302_092829.jpg IMG_20240302_093222.jpg
I don’t see Brooklynella here, more likely damage due to fighting, that tail damage is pretty severe.
I find that diagnosing brooklynella is more easily done through video, it makes the fish swim differently.
I think either way, you’ll need to separate these two fish, at least temporarily.
 
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ThomasNanoReefer

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Thanks for your reply. I have attached a video. As regards the tail, the strange thing is that during the three months the new fish is in the tank, I have not observed any aggression between the two fish. They do hang out together sometimes, but they rarely sleep together. I also do not have a powerhead, just the return pump with random flow generators. Another suspect might be the porcelain crab as they often share the same anemone.
 

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Jay Hemdal

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Thanks for your reply. I have attached a video. As regards the tail, the strange thing is that during the three months the new fish is in the tank, I have not observed any aggression between the two fish. They do hang out together sometimes, but they rarely sleep together. I also do not have a powerhead, just the return pump with random flow generators. Another suspect might be the porcelain crab as they often share the same anemone.

I don't see any evidence of Brooklynella in the way the clownfish are swimming.
 

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