Parasitic crustacean??

[danelam]

I've been observing my clownfish the past week or so and noticed something like a growth right near its dorsal fin. I thought perhaps it was an abrasion or something and let it be. Today though I noticed something similar on one of its flippers and thought it might be a microcrustacean.

I caught the fish and was going to remove the growths with tweezers but thought I should get some other opinions before I do this.

Other than the growths, this fish is completely normal. Energetic, eating lots etc etc.

Sorry that the pics quality isn't great, you can only see the growth near its dorsal fin.

 

[Deanos]

Which photo is it visible?

 

[danelam]

I've circled the growth in red in one of the photos.
I know it's really hard to discern though. However, it is distinct up close and while it could have just been an abrasion there is now also this white growth on the black tip on one of its flippers. I think it's more than a coincidence. And besides, if there was another abrasion on its flipper I would have thought it would be black like the tips of the flippers.

 

[NYreefNoob]

is it a little white dot ? cause them pics dont show anything

 

[danelam]

no it's not a dot like ich, it's like a little wart, or pimple or growth or something like that. I thought it was nothing until one appeared on its flipper too

 

[Davidl919]

Which photo is it visible?

Dean. The link master. Slipping Say it ain't so :shocked1:

Here is a student example.

Go Here .

and even with the pic that you highlighted I can't tell so you might need to take better pics.

Hope the link helps.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Isopod
Lymphocystis

Are 2 possibilities that come to mind

The pics aren't very visible so these are just guesses

 

[NYreefNoob]

ick does grow under ther skin and looks like a bump. not saying it is that but ich isnt always on the outside

 

[danelam]

Dean. The link master. Slipping Say it ain't so :shocked1:

Here is a student example.

Go Here .

and even with the pic that you highlighted I can't tell so you might need to take better pics.

Hope the link helps.

Thanks for this link. It sounds like this could be lymphocystis in which case I can't do anything. It's all very strange...

 

[danelam]

Isopod
Lymphocystis

Are 2 possibilities that come to mind

The pics aren't very visible so these are just guesses

Yeah I was originally thinking isopods, but I can't make out any distinguishing features of crustaceans. It's hard to tell.

I guess I'll keep trying to get a photo pic

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Isopods usually attack the face, eyes, and gills. They also look like something. If you can't tell odds are it's lymph.

 

[danelam]

anyone here ever dealt with lymphocystic before?

 

[KathyC]

I have no experience with lymphocystic but after all that I just spent the last hour reading about this.... and if I was in your position, I'd increase water changes and test all of my parameters and keep a good handle on my husbandry as it seems that have a lot to do with this condition.
A well balanced diet will also help
Many of us focus on feeding mysis & cyclopeeze to our animals but they do require a 'staple' food to provide them with the vitamins & minerals they need and that should be the basis of what we feed.

Not sure if you returned the fish back to your display, but it sounds like that would be your best bet so as to keep him less stressed. Most everything I read either said that it could get much worse (NOT the usual course of events!) or it will simply vanish on it's own.
I did note that lymphocystic is contagious through direct contact..perhaps you can pop this guy into your sump if you have one and see if it clears up in there? Then again..it's already been with your other fish...a personal decision..I'd go DT & not worry too much.

Good that you are observing your fish so closely though!!

 

[e.muehlbauer]

There is a parasitic copepod that I have seen frequently on bluefish. It attaches to the base of the dorsal fin, usually at the front. It does not resemble a crustacean in any way (many of these guys lose their defining characteristics after the larval stage), just like a long, thin pinkish blob. Your's looks shorter and fatter, from what I can see...so it may be a different species....or it may be a different problem altogether. Isopods are distinctive, they look just like a common woodlouse, but I have only seen them (again on bluefish, and only small ones) on the gills, inside the operculum.