Ich disease

[Coleb]

I woke up this morning and my clownfish had some white spots is it ich? And my other clownfish has a big spot on it I don't know what it is

these are the best pics I could get

 

[Humblefish]

How long have you had these clownfish? Some of the spots do look like ich, but a disease called Brooklynella is a bigger concern when it comes to clownfish.

 

[Coleb]

I've had them for about 5 -6 months how do you treat that?

 

[Humblefish]

I've had them for about 5 -6 months how do you treat that?

If you've had them that long, it's probably not Brook. How large would you say the white dots are on them? Do they look like sprinkled salt/sugar? Also (very important), do the dots appear to be under or on top of the skin?

 

[Coleb]

On top of the skin

 

[Coleb]

Not very big either just a little of it

 

[Humblefish]

On top of the skin

On top is not ich. Ich cysts appear under the skin. If it looks like something you could pull off with tweezers, then it's not ich. Have you noticed any heavy breathing or scratching?

It could be Lymphocystis (a harmless virus) or even a bacterial infection. In the first pic, the clown below the other clownfish has a large white "smudge" that could be the onset of a bacterial infection.

 

[Coleb]

What should I do about that smudge?

 

[Humblefish]

What should I do about that smudge?

For now, I would start soaking their food with vitamin supplements (ex. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem). Doing that will give their immune system a boost to fight off infection. Your clowns may (or may not) have ich... there's just not enough evidence to confirm IMHO. The vitamin supplements will help them "manage" the presence of ich as well, if it is indeed present in your tank.

 

[Humblefish]

Vitamin supplements also seem to expedite the "going away" of Lymphocystis. But if this is Lympho, it is a virus the fish will carry for life (akin to herpes in humans).

 

[Coleb]

Ok thanks