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I have a 12 Gallon reef that has been running since June.
Last week I noticed two black spots near the pectoral fin and a about four spots near the anal fin areas of my Clown Fish.
His appetite is fine and his personality has not changed. I am not sure what to make of these and was hoping someone might be able to help me out. There has been no major changes to the tank for the last month as I am now sitting back and watching things grow in.
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Last Login: 6/28/2008 11:19:52 AM
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| The condition is known as Hyper-Melaninization. In essence, the fish has come into contact with a coral or anemone or other such invertebrate that has stung or injured the fish. The fish isn't 'ill' per se only those portions of the skin have changed their pigmentation. Re-evaluate what is in your aquarium and if the condition doesn't improve in a few weeks, remove the 'culprit' or remove the fish from this exposure.
Lee
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| Welcome to MarineDepot.com and this forum. I had typed a post this am.....but I do not see it anywhere now.....hmmmm I agree with Lee - Thanks for contributing as always! Please keep us updated on your clown. Best of luck.
Kelly
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Thank you Lee and Kelly. Over the last four months my clown fish has hosted a few different corals. First, I had a large green striped mushroom, but then traded these for Frog Spawn. I have seen him begin to host my furry green-tip mushroom, but has since moved back to the Frog Spawn. More recently, I've noticed him from time to time, sucking the tips of the Frog Spawn. Is it possible that the Frog Spawn could have stung him? The other invertebrates in my tank include: a cleaner shrimp, green emerald crab and a Fromia sp. Red-Sea Starfish. Could either of these invertebrates have stung my clown?
Also, will the fish eventually absorb this excess melanin?
Thomas
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The fish should recover nicely, if the stinging isn't going to continue, and the fish is getting proper nutrition. As for the possible 'culprits' I will bow out. My experience is with marine fishes. 
Lee
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Its the frogspawn causing it. You will see this pretty commonly with clownfish hosting any kind of Euphylliid (frogspawn, hammer, bubble, torch, etc).  It shouldn't be an issue as time passes.
____________________________________-Amy-
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| Amy, I was hoping you would chime in ......I knew you would know the culprit! Thanks for "solving" the mystery.
Kelly
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Thank You Amy,
I thought that the Frogspawn would be the most likely. I wonder, do I need to remove it? I have heard/read of many other cases involving clownfish hosting Frogspawn. My clownfish does not seem to be bothered at the moment and he is always swimming around and rubbing his body up against the Frogspawn.
What do you think I should do? I don't want to keep an anemone in this small of a tank and I certainly don't want my clownfish to suffer. I had been contemplating giving him away to a good home and getting something like a purple pseudochromis or other small mid level swimmer.
Thanx
Thomas
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| The clownfish should get over it in time so long as you keep water quality high, keep them well fed and with vitamin supplements too. It's the frogspawn I'd be worried about. That looks like a young clownfish, who hasn't developed an aggressively loving habit towards it's host. She'll get there. Some people are lucky and never have problems with their clownfish hosting in a frogspawn like yours. Others (myself included) were not so lucky and watched the clownfish beat the coral to near death before the coral was removed. Just know, your clownfish is not suffering if you do not have an anemone nor a coral host. They are just goofy fish. Remove the frogsapwn she might go to the powerhead, remove the powerhead she might rub up to the xenia. If that bothers you then maybe it would be a good idea to look at other fish.
____________________________________ -Amy-
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hi, i seem to hve a smilar problem with my pair of clowns. i added an anemone a month a go and they were not interested in it to start wiv. then 2 wks ago they suddenly began to swim amongst it, subbing themselves against it and doing that vibrating thingy which is some kind of mating ritual! they love it and rarley leave it, only to feed and have a swim and then rapidly return. They are eating and breathing normally and seem real healthy. i wondered if this colouration appears when they are ready to bread???? Wot do u think?
i love marines!
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