Flasher Wrasse war victom

[ptrusk]

Blue flasher wrasse been in my tank for a year or so. Today I looked in tank and saw pec fin and caudal fin shredded. No changes, no new additions. Residents are 2 mating black o clowns, tiny dick head yellow tail damsel that have been here for 12 years, dartfish been here several years, McCoakers flasher been here for 2 months. Never any aggression. Still swimming and eating.

Does this look like trauma? Disease?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Blue flasher wrasse been in my tank for a year or so. Today I looked in tank and saw pec fin and caudal fin shredded. No changes, no new additions. Residents are 2 mating black o clowns, tiny dick head yellow tail damsel that have been here for 12 years, dartfish been here several years, McCoakers flasher been here for 2 months. Never any aggression. Still swimming and eating.

Does this look like trauma? Disease?

Thanks for any insight.

It sure looks like trauma. Fin erosion, starting up with no trauma is pretty rare. Also, the fins are jagged, where bacterial infection tends to have smoother edges. Still, it could become infected.

The trouble is that wrasse use their pectoral fins to swim with, so this fish is going to be at a disadvantage, and could get tagged by the fish that did the original damage.

Do you have access to one of those floating isolation tanks?

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Blue flasher wrasse been in my tank for a year or so. Today I looked in tank and saw pec fin and caudal fin shredded. No changes, no new additions. Residents are 2 mating black o clowns, tiny dick head yellow tail damsel that have been here for 12 years, dartfish been here several years, McCoakers flasher been here for 2 months. Never any aggression. Still swimming and eating.

Does this look like trauma? Disease?

Thanks for any insight.

Obviously Aggression and now a matter of finding the culprit. Easiest way is to place your cell phone on video mode for about 30-40 minutes. Feed as normal and walk away. (you must walk away as they somehow know youre there)
Come back and review video. You will then know who it is
For best chance of healing for wrasse- utilize an acclimation box

 

[ptrusk]

Thanks for the advice. I suspect the damsel, he’s usually rough on newcomers for a day or 2 but I have had the wrasse for at least a year so who knows. I will try the candid camera I do have an acclimation box and I have a frag tank I was going to put him in when I catch him until he heals. Didn’t fall for the trap yesterday but I’ll get him.

I also have a 40 with only 2 clowns that I can put the damsel in if it turns out to be him. I know where he sleeps so should be easy to catch if found guilty. If not, the wrasse will have a new home there.

Thanks again.

 

[jkcoral]

Thanks for the advice. I suspect the damsel, he’s usually rough on newcomers for a day or 2 but I have had the wrasse for at least a year so who knows. I will try the candid camera I do have an acclimation box and I have a frag tank I was going to put him in when I catch him until he heals. Didn’t fall for the trap yesterday but I’ll get him.

I also have a 40 with only 2 clowns that I can put the damsel in if it turns out to be him. I know where he sleeps so should be easy to catch if found guilty. If not, the wrasse will have a new home there.

Thanks again.

Don’t rule out the clowns! Damsels are little devils, but your mating clowns might be the culprits. When my clowns are starting to act like they want to lay some eggs they become a lot more hostile to everyone in the tank, to the point of engaging in open combat with my mean Ruby Long Fin wrasse and even harassing my small pink streaked that they normally love!

 

[ptrusk]

Don’t rule out the clowns! Damsels are little devils, but your mating clowns might be the culprits. When my clowns are starting to act like they want to lay some eggs they become a lot more hostile to everyone in the tank, to the point of engaging in open combat with my mean Ruby Long Fin wrasse and even harassing my small pink streaked that they normally love!

The clowns were certainly suspects for the the reasons you cited.
@vetteguy53081 The camera trick worked and provided the evidence. Damsel went after him a few times. He will be cast down with the Sodomites. Kidding, kinda. The 2 clowns in the 40 are pretty mean, hence the reason they are alone. They will have a new chew toy besides my hand.