Midnight Dwarf Angel: Faint White Spots

[blaxsun]

First and foremost, apologies for the crappy images in-advance (black fish just do not show up worth crap on cameras). I've had this midnight (noir) dwarf angelfish for almost 2 years now. He eats like a pig, is growing and is otherwise healthy as far as I can tell. All my water parameters are excellent and there are no issues with any of the other fish (including the other dwarf angel, a coral beauty). When you see him in the tank he basically looks like a black silhouette. However, up close (and especially when he catches the light) you can see a few faint white spots on his sides. It's not ich or velvet, pretty certain it's not flukes and it's a discoloration on the scales - not any kind of growth.

He's sleeps in a cave and spends a lot of time cave spelunking. A lot of time. These white spots seem to come and go randomly. Are these just from scrapes or other cave "misadventures", or is this possibly something I need to look at treating? Also know that this is by far the fastest and most devious fish in my tank, so catching him for quarantine is simply not an option. Thanks for any insight, suggestions or help.

 

[Lineatus]

its (hopefully) just scrapes. My midnight clownfish develops marks very similar to that, but only after he steps over the mark with the female. My bets are on caving accidents but I’d certainly keep an eye on it

 

[blaxsun]

its (hopefully) just scrapes. My midnight clownfish develops marks very similar to that, but only after he steps over the mark with the female. My bets are on caving accidents but I’d certainly keep an eye on it

Appreciated, thanks. Next to the quoy parrotfish (who sleeps in a different cave) he's the beta fish in the tank (even the sailfin leaves him alone).

 

[Jay Hemdal]

First and foremost, apologies for the crappy images in-advance (black fish just do not show up worth crap on cameras). I've had this midnight (noir) dwarf angelfish for almost 2 years now. He eats like a pig, is growing and is otherwise healthy as far as I can tell. All my water parameters are excellent and there are no issues with any of the other fish (including the other dwarf angel, a coral beauty). When you see him in the tank he basically looks like a black silhouette. However, up close (and especially when he catches the light) you can see a few faint white spots on his sides. It's not ich or velvet, pretty certain it's not flukes and it's a discoloration on the scales - not any kind of growth.

He's sleeps in a cave and spends a lot of time cave spelunking. A lot of time. These white spots seem to come and go randomly. Are these just from scrapes or other cave "misadventures", or is this possibly something I need to look at treating? Also know that this is by far the fastest and most devious fish in my tank, so catching him for quarantine is simply not an option. Thanks for any insight, suggestions or help.

It would be really odd for a contagious disease to show up after two years. As you know, these fish show up every little mark/scrape due to their dark color. The spots seem too diffuse to be ich or velvet. Could be marks from flukes, but then what did they make an appearance now, after two years? Anything recently added to the tank?

Jay

 

[blaxsun]

It would be really odd for a contagious disease to show up after two years. As you know, these fish show up every little mark/scrape due to their dark color. The spots seem too diffuse to be ich or velvet. Could be marks from flukes, but then what did they make an appearance now, after two years? Anything recently added to the tank?

I had a bad case of velvet in-tank about 4-5 months ago and the midnight angelfish wasn't really affected (or at least didn't show any signs unlike the dozen or so other fish). Everything has been very heathy and happy otherwise since - with zero flashing, odd or unusual behavior. They're all absolute pigs...

I have added some new fish over the past few months, most recently: red fairy anthias, a half dozen green chromis, marcia's anthias, three lyretail anthias and a quoy parrotfish (going back approximately 2-2.5 months). They're all perfectly fine as well.

It only seems to be the midnight angel, and as I said - he's had the faint marks on and off since I got him (sometimes it will be months before we see anything). Appreciate the response.

 

[blaxsun]

Here's a short video clip that I just snagged. Every so often when he turns sideways to the camera the auto-focus will pickup on some of the small faint white spots (just behind his head) - but you can only really briefly see them (the camera has a heck of a time trying to distinguish between the solid black).

 

[DrZoidburg]

So hard to see. Don't rule out a grumpy crab also in the caves. If you have one that is. Sometimes they try to get them while their sleeping.

 

[blaxsun]

So hard to see. Don't rule out a grumpy crab also in the caves. If you have one that is. Sometimes they try to get them while their sleeping.

I have two big crabs (2"+): an emerald and strawberry Hawaiian. The latter is very shy and avoids any fish; the former can be seen occasionally "sleeping with the fishes", but I think they kicked him out as he seems to have taken up residence in his own cave.

 

[DrZoidburg]

I have a few that are always trying. Leaves similar white scuffs sometimes. Not saying that's what is going on here though. Too hard to see.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Here's a short video clip that I just snagged. Every so often when he turns sideways to the camera the auto-focus will pickup on some of the small faint white spots (just behind his head) - but you can only really briefly see them (the camera has a heck of a time trying to distinguish between the solid black).

Is the angel's right eye a bit cloudy?

Jay

 

[blaxsun]

Is the angel's right eye a bit cloudy?

I didn't actually notice, to be honest - I'll have a look tomorrow again when the lights are up.

 

[blaxsun]

Hey folks, sorry for the long delay with an update (I've been out of commission for the past several days). I'm pleased to report that my midnight angel appears to be back in perfect health as of this afternoon. Over the past few days we observed that some of the white spots got brighter, some faded - but all were gone when we checked this afternoon.

At this point I think it's safe to attribute the marks to this particular fish's preclusion for cave exploration (either scraping against the rocks or reacting to a defensive gesture from one of the two passive crabs who don't like being disturbed; my crabs are "all bark" and "no bite").

Thanks for all the suggestions and assistance.