After hours of searching the internet, I can't determine what's going on with my Clown Fish. This is ONLY around the gills and the rest of the body looks healthy. I don’t know if this is just the way the fish is supposed to look, or if it’s something serious. There aren't any tiny, white or fuzzy dots, no patches or blotches and the fins are perfectly fine. Both fish eat like horses, are very social and not at all lethargic.
The problem: The white stripe by the head is outlined in black (this is also where the slit for the gill is… standard on all Clowns)… It looks like there are little black hairs extending out of the slit (maybe part of the gills?)... see the out of focus photo... Both fish will rub against the bottom or other surfaces in the tank on occasion. They are both young and will do the twitching thing, but this is normal as one is establishing dominance (I think).
I ruled out clown fish disease & ich. I found articles about ‘Gill Flukes’ and I don’t think that’s it since there is no inflammation, bleeding, redness or excess slime.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1260067&highlight=gill+flukes
http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/disease/flukes.php
Thanks for the help!
My Tank Parameters have been VERY constant and favorable:
30” T5 - HO 2 bulb light
1.025 Salinity
~8.4 pH
5 ppm Nitrate
0 ppm Nitrite
~180 ppm Alkalinity
420 ppm Calcium
20% water changes weekly (20g tank + 8g refugium)
* I’ve added a lot to my tank in the last couple months (many coral frags, 2 Fire Fish & a Shrimp).
I struggle keeping a constant temperature. Temp swings from about 73 at night to 78 during the day and sometimes will get up to 80.
The problem: The white stripe by the head is outlined in black (this is also where the slit for the gill is… standard on all Clowns)… It looks like there are little black hairs extending out of the slit (maybe part of the gills?)... see the out of focus photo... Both fish will rub against the bottom or other surfaces in the tank on occasion. They are both young and will do the twitching thing, but this is normal as one is establishing dominance (I think).
I ruled out clown fish disease & ich. I found articles about ‘Gill Flukes’ and I don’t think that’s it since there is no inflammation, bleeding, redness or excess slime.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1260067&highlight=gill+flukes
http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/disease/flukes.php
Thanks for the help!
My Tank Parameters have been VERY constant and favorable:
30” T5 - HO 2 bulb light
1.025 Salinity
~8.4 pH
5 ppm Nitrate
0 ppm Nitrite
~180 ppm Alkalinity
420 ppm Calcium
20% water changes weekly (20g tank + 8g refugium)
* I’ve added a lot to my tank in the last couple months (many coral frags, 2 Fire Fish & a Shrimp).
I struggle keeping a constant temperature. Temp swings from about 73 at night to 78 during the day and sometimes will get up to 80.
