Clownfish

[BigC]

Newbie to marine I am. But through many an active decade on the tropical side of the fence has tought me to always observe whats going on with your charges.
Recently I noticed that one of my common clowns is out growing and steadily bullying the other to a certain degree. Nothing uncommon there I here you say. The larger being the female and the smaller adopting a sub serviant role. What is concerning me is that the female (persay) has/is adopted/hosting a large polyp colony. (Palythoa sp) Every now and then she gets a white coloured substance on her caudal fin. Now this could either be from the coral itself, or as I suspect is on the actual fish. (Looks much like a fungus in the tropical world) In a couple of days it clears up again (only on the female/larger fish) I was worried initally that it was some sort of marine fin degenerative disease, but I know now that is not the case. It happens fairly regulary but clears completely in 24-48 hours
Any one else experience this phenomenon.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

The fish COULD be battling a parasitic infection of Brooknella. Or it could be some mucuous response to the Palythoa as a result of the hosting attempt... Tough to say. Keep an eye on it though to see if it spreads. That is a textbook spot for Brooknella though

 

[BigC]

Cheers Ski,
It doesn't stay and it doesn't spread, not too worried as fish look in perfect health otherwise.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Make sure you double check their gills, as this is another COMMON brooknella infection site.

 

[BigC]

What should I be looking for, Type of manefestation, colouration, symptoms, effect on fish health etc. etc. etc.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

What should I be looking for, Type of manefestation, colouration, symptoms, effect on fish health etc. etc. etc.
Regards
BigC

Enflamed gills, and if you can see the gills, you will also eventually see a velvety looking substance on them. They don't puff up big, just get a thin film of this white vlevety milky looking stuff (great description I know). The fish will also tend to hang around at the bottom and/or sit in it's host (if it has one) and gasp for breath a lot. That is all of course IF it's brooknella.

Btw to you BigC or anyone else intersted, there seem to be two types/strains of the parasite. One virulent which kills in a matter of days (more like oodinium) and the other much slower which tends to take 2-3 weeks to run its course (slower than ich).

 

[BigC]

Thanks Ski,
But its not that, nothing remotely like the symptoms you detailed. As I said the fish look in good health, feeding well and have good colouration so I just wonder if it is a reaction to the polyp itself, only the larger fish will bury itself in the clump whereas the smaller fish will not and is not allowed to by the larger clown
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Good, prolly nothing to worry about, but good knowledge for yourself or anyone else reading

 

[BigC]

Good, prolly nothing to worry about, but good knowledge for yourself or anyone else reading

Yeah Ski I copy that.
Always good to continue a thread such as and provide info forthwith which may well be relevant to others.
Many Thanks
BigC