Black spots on my clown loach
 

Hey there - I've just discovered one of my smaller clown loaches has lots of small black spots on his face. They are quite dark. I've seen some spots before, but never this may. They look like freckles.

Any ideas??

Have u added new fishes to the tank recently? That may have introduced a parasite called diplopstomiasis.

No new fish recently. Not for the last couple months, anyway.
Today I can hardly see his freckles at all.

hey, do you know what your parameters are?? do any of the others do it also?? im asking around to see if anyone knows what might be up. :)

-ashley

Not sure what the parameters are. I do my water changes and eveything. I noticed them once several weeks ago also and tried to look it up online without any real success. If it is in fact a parasite, it apparently doesn't hurt them or kill them. APPARENTLY. The few times I've noticed the spots, I haven't noticed if they've been on any one in particular of my three loaches, and they disappear by next morning.

i doubt its a parasite. its suggested that its likely a mineral or chemical irritant. try picking up a chemical absorbent filter (as your LFS which kind). are you using well water??

-ashley

Nope, just tapwater.
It's really weird how sometimes the spots are so dark and others I can't see them at all. Also, sometimes there are just a few spots and others there are tons.
They are still eating and very active, so I'm not too worried, and I don't see anything on the other fish.
I'll see about getting a chem filter.