black spots on clown fish...not black ich..

[joekr]

My two clowns have black spots on them and I am curious if it is an issue. I understand that if it is black spot disease that it is not nearly as bad as ich, but these black spots do not look like any type of parasite, but rather a color change occuring on the fish.This was a gradual change and appears to be continuing..Both clowns appear healthy and happy while eating like horses!! Any opinions valued! Thanks!

 

[Juck]

Are they hosting in a colony of zoos or some other coral? I've seen pictures of clowns that changed color when doing this.

 

[joekr]

I have seen them once or twice around my blue zoos, but not regularly. No one seems to know exactly what is going on. It's just odd and I want to make sure they are all rght.

Thanks!

 

[Juck]

Do they show any signs of disease at all? Rapid breathing etc? Seems odd they would both start showing spots at the exact same time.

 

[joekr]

no, they seem very healthy and happy. They eat daily and are fairly active. No heavy breathing and they are the only fish in the tank.

I'm over at reef central as well talking to one of their members who has had the exact same thing going on with his 2 clowns over the past couple of months. Very strange....

 

[Anonymous]

It's called melanism, it can be a perfectly normal event in Clownfish.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[joekr]

David, thanks for the help!!! I have been searching everywhere to make sure that my clowns are OK. I've been talking to a bunch of people at reef central and will pass along the info to them as well!

Again, thank you!!!

 

[Ben1]

I have seen tspots like that on my clowns once in awhile. It seems to me to occur when I dont feed a variety of foods. The black spots disappear once they are fed with better foods, IME.

 

[joekr]

Thanks for the information Ben. I will start diversifying my feeding. I normally feed them prime reef flakes. I will stop by the LFS and see what they recomend...