Strange small white Spot on Clownfish

[New_Reef]

Hello,

I have recently started a small reef tank with a pair of Percula Clownfish.

Today I noticed a small white spot on the side of the one Clownfish. Seem to be eating fine and everything else seems normal.

I have attached a few images.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

I have recently started a small reef tank with a pair of Percula Clownfish.

Today I noticed a small white spot on the side of the one Clownfish. Seem to be eating fine and everything else seems normal.

I have attached a few images.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Keep an eye on it for now looking for improvement. It appears to be a small cyst often developed from a nick or injury becoming infected. If it gets red or larger, treat in separate tank with Seachem Neoplex or Kanaplex and add aeration with air stone.

 

[MnFish1]

Agree with vetteguy - I'm guessing you're worried about Ich - which this does not look like - however - ich can look like this - so watch for the 'spot' to fall off - and then more spots to appear. Did you QT the fish with copper/prazipro or anything else before adding? How long have you had them? Have you seen pairing behavior or aggression?

 

[New_Reef]

Keep an eye on it for now looking for improvement. It appears to be a small cyst often developed from a nick or injury becoming infected. If it gets red or larger, treat in separate tank with Seachem Neoplex or Kanaplex and add aeration with air stone.

Okay thank you for the reply much appreciated. Will continue to monitor it.

 

[New_Reef]

Agree with vetteguy - I'm guessing you're worried about Ich - which this does not look like - however - ich can look like this - so watch for the 'spot' to fall off - and then more spots to appear. Did you QT the fish with copper/prazipro or anything else before adding? How long have you had them? Have you seen pairing behavior or aggression?

Yes from initial research it does look like it may be Ich. I did not quarantine the fish however they are the only livestock in the tank. I have had them a week today. They seem to be showing pairing behaviour (some dancing) not seen any aggression.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes from initial research it does look like it may be Ich. I did not quarantine the fish however they are the only livestock in the tank. I have had them a week today. They seem to be showing pairing behaviour (some dancing) not seen any aggression.

The spot looks a bit too large to be ich. As suggested, ich trophonts (that make the white spots) tend to come and go, change location, and generally increase in numbers over time. Also, you will see ich on the fins, not just the body.

 

[New_Reef]

Agree with vetteguy - I'm guessing you're worried about Ich - which this does not look like - however - ich can look like this - so watch for the 'spot' to fall off - and then more spots to appear. Did you QT the fish with copper/prazipro or anything else before adding? How long have you had them? Have you seen pairing behavior or aggression?

Yes from initial research it does look like it may be Ich. I did not quarantine the fish however they are the only livestock in the tank. I have had them a week today. They seem to be showing pairing behaviour (some dancingnot seen any aggression.

The spot looks a bit too large to be ich. As suggested, ich trophonts (that make the white spots) tend to come and go, change location, and generally increase in numbers over time. Also, you will see ich on the fins, not just the body.

Okay again thank you for the reply. I have attached some more images from today it seems both fish now have some white spots. I’m now thinking potentially Brooklynella ?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes from initial research it does look like it may be Ich. I did not quarantine the fish however they are the only livestock in the tank. I have had them a week today. They seem to be showing pairing behaviour (some dancingnot seen any aggression.

Okay again thank you for the reply. I have attached some more images from today it seems both fish now have some white spots. I’m now thinking potentially Brooklynella ?

It's not Brooklynella. If you are seeing more spots then it is more likely that it is ich and not something like sand grains, etc.

What treatment options do you have? Do you have a treatment tank? Any medications on hand?

 

[New_Reef]

It's not Brooklynella. If you are seeing more spots then it is more likely that it is ich and not something like sand grains, etc.

What treatment options do you have? Do you have a treatment tank? Any medications on hand?

I don’t have a separate tank or any medication to hand. What would you recommend? Would I be able to treat directly in the tank? as I don’t have any coral on invertebrates at the moment.

 

[MnFish1]

You can use the hypo salinity thread at the top of the page. Let me know if you can't see it. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hyposalinity.880546/

 

[MnFish1]

By the way - can you take a close-up of the spots you're seeing and then post with an arrow or circle pointing to some of them - My computer is acting up somewhat - and its hard to enlarge the pictures - but I can see what looks like extra mucus on one of the fish. The initial white spot has not changed - according to what I can see, correct?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is the hyposalinity thread if you still need it:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hyposalinity.880546/

 

[New_Reef]

You can use the hypo salinity thread at the top of the page. Let me know if you can't see it. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hyposalinity.880546/

Thank you I can see the thread

 

[New_Reef]

By the way - can you take a close-up of the spots you're seeing and then post with an arrow or circle pointing to some of them - My computer is acting up somewhat - and its hard to enlarge the pictures - but I can see what looks like extra mucus on one of the fish. The initial white spot has not changed - according to what I can see, correct?

 

[New_Reef]

Here is another picture of the spots. The initial white spot doesn’t seem to have changed no.

 

[New_Reef]

Here is another picture of the spots. The initial white spot doesn’t seem to have changed no.

This is the current update this morning. Everybody still think Ich?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This is the current update this morning. Everybody still think Ich?

It may or may not be coincidental to these spots, but there is some damage on this fish that has been caused by a tankmate. I see in an earlier pic that both have spots, but this one has fin damage, as well as more spots.

 

[New_Reef]

It may or may not be coincidental to these spots, but there is some damage on this fish that has been caused by a tankmate. I see in an earlier pic that both have spots, but this one has fin damage, as well as more spots.

So could these be missing or damaged scales then ? Or Ich with a damaged fin ? Looking back at photos when I first received the fish the fin damage was already there. So I’m confident they are now in a pair.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So could these be missing or damaged scales then ? Or Ich with a damaged fin ? Looking back at photos when I first received the fish the fin damage was already there. So I’m confident they are now in a pair.

It could be either case. If you are sure the damage is old, I guess I would err on the side of caution and treat for ich.....

 

[New_Reef]

It could be either case. If you are sure the damage is old, I guess I would err on the side of caution and treat for ich.....

Okay, do you think I could get away with copper treatment directly in the tank as I have no coral or CUC ? or is hyposalinity the only real option?

It could be either case. If you are sure the damage is old, I guess I would err on the side of caution and treat for ich.....