Maroon Clown Help - Battle of the (anal) bulge

[daverf]

Can anyone help me ID this issue?

This large maroon is fairly new in my tank, so far has had pretty stressful run in the tank. Harassment plus turning around a water quality dive that started when I began display tank hypo. Water quality is improving, harassment is not.

And then there's this issue, a swollen anus. It almost looks like flesh (or growth) has ruptured. I've had difficulty monitoring, as she stays hidden in the tank's rockwork. Trying to pull the instigator out of the tank so she will be more active.

Not sure...if there is blockage in passing feces, if this is trauma from the eel, if she caused irritation ("wags her tail" a lot in the sand), if there is some other pathogen. I can't find much online to help with a positive ID.

And then there is a small white clump on one pectoral fin. I'm 99% positive this is not Ich or another parasite, a) is very big and b) I've been running hypo in the tank and have seen no white spots since the 2nd day of treatment (now, is in 2nd week).

Help!

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[SAZAMA]

maybe its balls finally dropped? good luck brother...

 

[WatercolorsGuy]

My first thoughts are that it is in spawning condition. The fact she is doing nest building behavior(fanning the sand in my experience is nest building/clearing) leads me to believe that what you are seeing is possibly the ovipositor hanging down and, without a mate, may be egg bound.

Hopefully one of the clown breeders here will give their opinion on this.

The white spot is definitely not normal. Probably parasitic...but I am not sure from the pics what it is.

 

[daverf]

maybe its balls finally dropped? good luck brother...

LOL. That would explain the gong show sound that came from the tank a few nights ago. This must be her version of truck nuts.

My first thoughts are that it is in spawning condition. The fact she is doing nest building behavior(fanning the sand in my experience is nest building/clearing) leads me to believe that what you are seeing is possibly the ovipositor hanging down and, without a mate, may be egg bound.

Hopefully one of the clown breeders here will give their opinion on this.

The white spot is definitely not normal. Probably parasitic...but I am not sure from the pics what it is.

Wow, great insight on possibility for the bulge, look forward to a clown breeder opinion. This spot is strange, I've seen a lot of disease (unfortunately) over the last few months in this tank, but would have thought parasites could in no way infect under hyposalinity conditions. It is surely not Ich, because it is one large clump. But, parasitic seems the only plausible explanation....

 

[daverf]

OK Mike, I think you hit the nail on the head. "open sore" has gone way down. guess the handsome tusk in my tank got her in the mood.

Or maybe Tony was right? I did hear a vortex sound come from my tank today right before the bulge was gone. maybe the balls got sucked back in.