Injured fish

[Chrisz]

I believe my fish injured its self and has developed an bacterial infection of some sort. Any idea what kind of infection and how to treat it?

The fish in the last day or so looks like it might be getting better... leave it or yank it and treat the infection? He seems to be ok and eating well.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just looking at it, the lesion seems to be filling in around the margins with new tissue, so it seems to be healing without infection. How long has it been like this? Fish rarely injure themselves, what other fish are in with it? Any mean inverts like crabs?

Jay

 

[Chrisz]

Just looking at it, the lesion seems to be filling in around the margins with new tissue, so it seems to be healing without infection. How long has it been like this? Fish rarely injure themselves, what other fish are in with it? Any mean inverts like crabs?

Jay

It happened on Friday this week, I’ve got one yellow tang, flame angle, two clowns, mandarin, flame shrimp, emerald crab and some snails. Fish have been together around 10 years. 92 gallon corner tank

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

None of those seem capable of harming a dottyback. Maybe a rock fell on it? I do think it will recover without treatment though.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree with jay on recovery. One thing great about saltwater fish id their ability to heal and quickly on their own

 

[Sam816]

Little off topic here but how's it's temperament? Is it territorial? Bully to newer fish?
I think it either got hurt darting through rockwork after getting spooked. Or some critter in rockwork/sand nibbled on it. Maybe try cleaning area around its hidey spot n see if there are any worms etc.

 

[Chrisz]

Thanks for the input, it’s a mystery to me of how it happened, this guy and the angle are the most aggressive in the tank. As far as I can tell no rocks fell. There’s been weird stuff happening when the lights go dark, corals are knocked over a couple times a week. Have another tank cycling to put the fish in but it’s taking forever...

 

[Sam816]

J

Thanks for the input, it’s a mystery to me of how it happened, this guy and the angle are the most aggressive in the tank. As far as I can tell no rocks fell. There’s been weird stuff happening when the lights go dark, corals are knocked over a couple times a week. Have another tank cycling to put the fish in but it’s taking forever...

Just take some media from current tank to cycle the new tank. I keep a bag or two full of media to set up a QT in a hurry.

 

[Chrisz]

2nd back up tank finally cycled!

A water change and add a fish