Does this look like hyper-melaninization on my clown?

[hefner413]

This fella is an old timer in my tank - been there from the beginning. He doesn't host anything (I've never seen him do so anyway & I don't have anything for him to host). I'm wondering if it is hyper-melaninization or black ick? He is acting happy as always... no change in behavior.. Should I worry?
Thanks

 

[farslayer]

Doesn't look like ich to me. From what I've read, the melanization is in response to some sort of dermal irritation. So long as the irritation is gone, the pigmentation should not cause a problem. But I stress, I am no expert on this by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[trigger78]

I have had a tomato clown for about 4 years now that has started showing the same signs but it's signs are quite a bit worse than your fish's. Eats good, hasnt changed its attitude toward other fish or anything. But, it has black spots all over and even a couple patches of black.
I have added quite a few corals in the past month because I am upgrading to a much larger tank, but i rarely see it try to host any of them.
Hope it does ok until I get all of the coral out of its tank.

 

[hefner413]

yeah, my story is about the same trigger. I haven't had mine as long as you have, but I've been adding quite a bit of coral, but haven't seem him host any of it. So I'm not sure if it's from being stung. But he eats quite well and acts great...