Clowns - May have some disease

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by map95003, Apr 12, 2010.

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  1. map95003

    map95003 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Springfield MA
    Today I noticed both my clowns have some marks around their mouths, almost like some of their scales were lifted up. One of them look like he has some white thing on one of his eye-lids, his eyes seem bulgy. Other than that they both seem healthy, eating and swimming normal, just a bit concerned, I've had them for almost 2 yrs now and they have been healthy. They host my BTA, recently I notice they are always poking at the mouth of the BTA, might be a stupid question, but is it possible they are getting stung? Figure it can't be anything like ick because I have 2 tangs, if it's ick they would have probably been laced with it by now. I haven't added anything recently to my tank.

    I'm hoping it's nothing, just curious if you guys have seen this before...
     
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  3. kcbrad

    kcbrad Giant Squid

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    What are your water params?
     
  4. blackraven1425

    blackraven1425 Giant Squid

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    What kind of clowns are they?

    If they're ocellaris, they're not actually associated with BTAs in the wild, and can get discoloration because they're hosting in the "wrong kind" of anemone, so they don't have a natural immunity to their sting.
     
  5. map95003

    map95003 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    They are false percula clowns. My tank parms are listed below, all other fish (Yellow Tang, Hippo Tang, 6-line wrasse, mandarin) and all my corals are doing OK.

    pH: 8.0-8.2
    Alk: 9.8 dkh
    SG: 1.025
    Ca: 420
    Mg: 1350
    Temp: 77-79
    Ammonia: 0
    Nitrate: undetectable
    Phosphate: undetectable
     
  6. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    False percula = ocellaris. I thought ocellaris clowns host with bubble tipped anemones and perculas do not. Perculas host carpets and sebaes from what I understand. My 3 percs won't go near my green BTA, so I'm going to have to get them a small carpet soon. How long has it been hosting the BTA?
    Another possibility is that they are bickering and the one is getting beat up as they establish dominance.
     
  7. map95003

    map95003 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    They have been hosting the BTA for over 6 months. It took them about 6 months to even look at it. They have been acting very strange the last few days, wouldn't go more than a few inches away from the BTA (unless it's feeding time), I saw one of them bumping his mouth/face on the rock the BTA is attached to. I'm not sure if that's causing the problem or if he's actually trying to scratch his face. When other fish go next to the BTA the clowns are chasing them away...starting to think they may have babies, but I can't see any.
     
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  9. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    If they are biting the rock, that is a sign they are spawning. Generally both will bite at the rocks though. I kind of get the feeling the female was beating him into submission. Are they both eating?
     
  10. map95003

    map95003 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    They are both eating, however when I fed the tank a few minutes ago, they wouldn't leave the BTA to get food, I had to put the food closer to them. They wouldn't let the tangs near the BTA, they are actually attacking even my blue tang if he goes close....not sure what the deal is, looks like they are protecting something.
     
  11. map95003

    map95003 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    these guys are still bumping their mouths against the rock, almost like they are trying to eat something off the rock and they are staying within a few inches of the anemone. The marks I saw on their faces a few days ago are no longer visible, how can I tell if they have babies (can you tell, I have a clue how this stuff works? ), what should I be looking for?