Is this a bite mark, or an illness?

[Cheeze]

Overnight my wrasse either got bit by something, or developed something on it's top fin. Can anyone tell if it's a bite, or something worse?

It seems to get along with it's tank mates, as I never see any of the fish chase or nip at each other even when feeding. And aside from the fin, the fish seems healthy and happy (no other markings, has an appetite, swims along all day). Hoping it either scraped against a rock at night or one of my fish got territorial and nipped it, but it looks like a pretty big nip if the case.

I have a 38 gallon breeder with the Wrasse, Firefish, PJ Cardinal and a Royal Gramma. Also have about 8 hermits, a blue leg hermit and snails.
The tank cycled in February using dry rock and dry sand, and I haven't introduced any corals or rocks that would carry hitchhikers.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Overnight my wrasse either got bit by something, or developed something on it's top fin. Can anyone tell if it's a bite, or something worse?

It seems to get along with it's tank mates, as I never see any of the fish chase or nip at each other even when feeding. And aside from the fin, the fish seems healthy and happy (no other markings, has an appetite, swims along all day). Hoping it either scraped against a rock at night or one of my fish got territorial and nipped it, but it looks like a pretty big nip if the case.

I have a 38 gallon breeder with the Wrasse, Firefish, PJ Cardinal and a Royal Gramma. Also have about 8 hermits, a blue leg hermit and snails.
The tank cycled in February using dry rock and dry sand, and I haven't introduced any corals or rocks that would carry hitchhikers.

What are the tankmates?
It does seem large and in an unusual location for a bite.
Jay

 

[TriggerFinger]

Do you have a top on your tank? My guess would be it got injured trying to jump and hit the top.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like strong infection where the tissue is actually wasting away

 

[Cheeze]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

- Tank mates are: Firefish, PJ Cardinal and a Royal Gramma...also have about 8 hermits, a blue leg hermit and snails.

- There is a mesh lid on my tank, and I can't say I've seen or heard it try to jump (tho I know the breed is a known jumper).

- I'll keep an eye on the size, in the hopes it doesn't get bigger to imply an infection!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

- Tank mates are: Firefish, PJ Cardinal and a Royal Gramma...also have about 8 hermits, a blue leg hermit and snails.

- There is a mesh lid on my tank, and I can't say I've seen or heard it try to jump (tho I know the breed is a known jumper).

- I'll keep an eye on the size, in the hopes it doesn't get bigger to imply an infection!

Those fish would be unlikely attackers. I doubt that it is a primary bacterial infection though, so it may have injured itself jumping. It does look like a secondary infection though. If it grows larger you may need to treat it with antibiotics in a hospital tank.
Jay