Black spots on fish

[loans_n_fishes]

There are some black spots on my 2 occ clownfish. Is this a type of ich or something else? They are eating and swimming fine. I have 2 cleaner shrimp and I feed my fish garlic soaked food. Am I going to have to remove them and treat them in another tank? Copper? They are very small (about 1" long).

[Pacman]

I've noticed black spots on my occellaris clownfish too. I don't think that whatever my fish have is harmful. It seems flush with the skin, more like moles or dark areas of pigmentation than anything else.

[loans_n_fishes]

I hope it's not harmful, but I didn't notice it before.

[hobogato]

this may be the case - maybe not, but when my clown tang was fighting ich with the help of cleaner shrimp, it would get what looked like black scarring where the cleaner had picked off the white spots. now, a couple months later, there are no traces. HTH

[loans_n_fishes]

I've been watching them carefully for ich, and have never seen any white spots. I also have not seen the cleaner shrimp cleaning them. They do clean the other fish in the tank. For now the shrimp are larger than the clowns (2 or 3 times). It almost seems like the dots are below the skin surface...kind of like spots of mold.

[GaryP]

There is a type of Ich called "Black Ich" that is caused by a flatworm. Here is a link to more info on it.

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr.../blackich.html

The article recommends treating with a formalin or FW dip. I think Prazi Pro may also be a possible treatment as well. Check with Richard. He would be the best person to make a recommendation for treatment.

[loans_n_fishes]

Well, I think the black spots are fading. The fish seem to be behaving ok so I have just watched to see how things go. I really hate medications when it comes to fish. Hopefully, the spots are on their way out. Richard recommended prazi-pro if I needed medication. I guess I will go that route if things start to go south.