Genetic Disease Clowns

FAQs about the Genetic Diseases of Clownfishes

7 year old female clown holds mouth open and won't or can't eat. 5/1/17
I just noticed that the ridge on her back looks a little ragged compared to his. Here is another video and photo.
<This fish's mouth appears damaged... either from trauma or genetics. Not much you can do other than be patient and hope. Bob Fenner>
7 year old female clown holds mouth open and won't or can't eat. 5/1/17
> Here is a video and photo :
<Ditto>

Ocellaris anomaly? 7/19/15
Thanks for all the great info. I was at the LFS the other day and saw a tankful of maybe 12 smallish to medium ocellaris clowns. I am thinking in the future of having a pair but I noticed something odd. Two of the fish had noticeably larger jaws.
<Ahh! One of a few common genetic flaws in captive breds here>
Realizing that there are so many variants these days, I'm not sure if it is normal to see differences in shape as we see in color. Their mouths were not stuck open and they seemed to be buzzing around just as well as the others. Would you avoid purchasing such a fish?
<Mmm; well; for appearance sake perhaps; though as you state, not if the trait were not debilitating>
Is it possible for a healthy fish to be shaped differently since they are being bred like crazy and in so many different combinations?
<Yes; though this, pectoral fins of different size (ala Nemo; yes), flattened heads.... are part of all their genetic make-up.
Bob Fenner>

Clownfish with protruding gill 12/19/14
Hello,
I searched WetWebMedia to the best of my ability for my Clownfishes particular issue. After I received the clownfish I immediately noticed a bright red gill sticking out from underneath it's right gill flap during the acclimation process. This is a ORA snowflake clownfish. I have had the fish for five days now. It is eating like a pig and is swimming around normally. The only problem I have observed, besides the exposed gill, is very rapid breathing. As far as my tank parameters go this is a QT tank.
Ammonia-0, Nitrite-0, Nitrate-5, pH-8.1, salinity-1.024, Temperature-80.4.
I hope the pictures I attach will work. Thank you for your time.
<Yes; a not-uncommon issue with tank-bred fishes of their size, type/species; Clownfishes do have "bent" gill covers... either from the process of growing up crowded (injury) or genetic expression. Generally such fishes live just the same... and there is no "treatment" for such. If you're very bothered, the fine folks at ORA will likely credit/replace this one specimen. Bob Fenner>

Maroon Clownfish 1/28/12
Hello crew, Jake here! I hope your having as great of a day as i am!
<I hope you are>
The reason i am writing you, is because I'm having some thought about my recent addition to my tank: a small ORA Yellow Striped Maroon Clownfish.
I got him as a replacement to my poor Perc that i lost a few weeks ago do to a powerhead malfunction. I got him because he was a bit smaller, and that's what i was looking for, he seemed like he was in good health and the shop owner has had him for several months before i got him and said he was eating well. Its been a day or so, and after some serious inspecting of him, he doesn't fit the normal profile of a Maroon Clown,
<No... has genetic issue/s>
or so i think. He small, only about a inch and a half, and he has a body shape much like a Perc clown, but he is a deep red, almost brown in color with a few small patches of lighter orange, and his stripes are white as far as i can tell.
I did not notice this because the glass on the tanks at the store are tinted ( i think ) ad throws the colors off. I'm wondering if he may not be a Maroon at all.
<Is a Premnas; just diffed>
Ill attach some pictures, although he didn't make it easy getting some pictures that were not a total blur. If you could lend a hatchet to my intellectual thicket, that would be amazing.
Once again, thank you crew!
<Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/maroonclnart.htm
the linked files above; and search WWM w/ the string "Clownfish Genetic Disease"
Bob Fenner>

Maroon Clownfish Follow up, genetic issue/s 1/31/12
Hey Bob, thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
<Welcome>
I'm having a hard time locating the information on Clownfish Genetic Diseases. If you could just relay the information about it to me directly, or perhaps give me a straight link to the page, that would be great. Is a genetic disease like this common? Will it affect life span / longevity?
<Was very common two-three decades back when Clown breeding was in its heyday... Don't know specific references (try the search tool on WWM), but the pix you sent do show this specimen to be deformed... Such individuals should really be destroyed... As yes, they very often don't live well or long. BobF>
<<<<<Thanks so much,>>>>>>>>
Jake
Re: Maroon Clownfish Follow up 1/31/12
Little harsh don't yeah think?
<Mmm, no>
Because of theological reasons i have to value all life, including the genetic unfortunate, while i realize his
days may be numbed, my course of action will be to, medicate and nourish to provide as best a home as i can to ease what time he has left and enjoy his presence in the tank. If you do stumble about any information on the matter please write back as i will be interested to hear.
Thanks for the swift replies Bob,
J Larson
<I too value all life. B>

Please visit our Sponsors