Hi Christine,

I have a pair of A. percula that I adore, but recently they seem to be suffering from a white growth. The growth seem to be sores at first, then become fuzzy. It appears near or between the petoral fins, but I've also seen it close to the caudal fin. Once the growth gets fuzzy, the fish seem to lose control of said fin. They do itch and behave abnormally. Strangely, the growth eventualy will fall off, take a chunch of the fish's flesh with it, and the fish regain usage of the fin again. The fish is still eating very still during this entire process.

I've removed the pair from the system and into a hospital QT tank, in which they recover quite well. However, within a few day of introducing them back into the system, the growth returns. The sytem is about 50g with optimal water quality, other fish include a pair of spawning Green Mandarins and a pair of Banggai Cardinals. Only the clowns seem to be effected in the system.

Any advice on identification and treatment? Any help would be greatful, thanks!


Photo taken today after the fish's reintrocution into the system 5 days ago; depiction is of the growth, which appeared yesterday, during sore stage and before becomming fuzzy. Fish is still eating, but is restless.

not sure if this will help Christine, but how long have you had the fish? Are they new to the system or have they been there for awhile? Do they host in something? Are they both affected the same way/same places?

Hi Linda,

I have the pair for over six months and they have been in their current system for almost as long. They were healthy and growing well so I assume the parasite is an introduction from another fish (this is before my QT days). The pair share their hosting between an Elegance, Duncan, and Torch colony with the Duncan and Elegance being more preferable. Only the female seem to be affected at the moment and the sore has became solid white rather than anything fuzzy at the moment. I'll try to take an updated picture. Again, the male and the other fish are unaffected.

Hmmm, well my first inclination is that if the fishes are eating throughout and are only minimally affected, and get better on their own, is to leave them alone. Keep up with really good feedings (supplement with Selcon/vita-chem) and see how it goes. Aside from the "fuzziness", it sounds a little like lymphocystis, but that usually looks like cauliflower, or little cysts. It could be lympho with something else growing in the tissue lredy affected by the virus, but again, the fuzzy throws me--that's more like a freshwater fungus. You could try to see if it is an external parasite by doing a FW dip and see if it falls off--

Other than that, I don't know just from this photo and the description. :(