Large gash on wrasse

[Kershaw]

today I noticed my wrasse has a large gash on his side. Anyone know what this could be from. Could a tang do this? I couldn't get a clear picture so I took a video. And should I do anything. Keep in mind I do not have the ability to qt him. How ever a friend currently has a qt set up for treating his fish with velvet

 

[Duke4Life]

Does that tang always follow? A bit of a bully.

 

[cloak]

The tang might have done this. Another possibility is that it scraped itself on the rocks diving for cover. Either way though it doesn't look like anything to worry about IMO. As long as your parameters are within reason and the fish is eating well it should heal up in no time. GL.

 

[Kershaw]

Not always but allot. Some times the do chase each other a little. The wrasse some times sneaks up behind tang and scares it. I posted about there behavior before. If I have to pull purple tang I will.

 

[Kershaw]

The wrasse used to be more social and calm before purple tang. But they always seem to be together. Purple tang dose not even care about Kole tang

 

[Duke4Life]

Have an acclimation box or big enough sump you could move 1 2 for a few days? That's what I'd do, then if it doesn't work, it's decision time on who to pull (hate this).

 

[Kershaw]

aviut a month ago I seen mild signs of aggression. So I pulled him and put him in my fuge. Then posted it here. Every one told me they will be fine. Because he dose not keep the wrasse cornered. He dose not constantly attack wrasse, seems random. I love the tang but he is the newest fish. And I my wrasse was the first. So tang will probly be pulled out this week.

 

[4FordFamily]

Wrasse are pretty tough and can heal from some pretty serious injuries. I had a melanarus like yours that somehow had a gash that appeared to be cut 1/3 the way through the back of his mid section from the top but he healed completely in about one month. I did nothing but feed high quality food and keep water quality as top notch as possible.

 

[4FordFamily]

Wrasse are pretty tough and can heal from some pretty serious injuries. I had a melanarus like yours that somehow had a gash that appeared to be cut 1/3 the way through the back of his mid section from the top but he healed completely in about one month. I did nothing but feed high quality food and keep water quality as top notch as possible.

 

[Humblefish]

The tang might have done this. Another possibility is that it scraped itself on the rocks diving for cover. Either way though it doesn't look like anything to worry about IMO. As long as your parameters are within reason and the fish is eating well it should heal up in no time. GL.

+1 Soaking the fish's food in vitamin supplements (exs. Selcon, Zoecon, Vita-chem) may expedite the healing process.

 

[Kershaw]

Just walked up to tank and wrasse was sitting on bottom of tank center all the way to front glass. Not on his side or anything. As I got closer he very slowly started to move then swam around a bit and is now sitting near the rocks.

 

[Kershaw]

Breathing is normal. I walked away and a came back and he swam to front glass and layed there in front of me until the other fish showed up. I am becoming very worried

 

[melypr1985]

Is the gash on his side red at all or maybe whitish spreading out from the cut? I couldn't tell from the video.

 

[Kershaw]

Is the gash on his side red at all or maybe whitish spreading out from the cut? I couldn't tell from the video.

It dose not appear to be. Looks dark

 

[melypr1985]

It dose not appear to be. Looks dark

In the videos the cut looks ok enough for him to heal up on his own. How much time has passed since you first noticed it, to the time of the video, to now that he's acting lethargic?

 

[Kershaw]

I noticed today I would say a few hours. I have had sick fish and he dose not show breathing issue, when he comes to glass he dose not lay on his side. He just seems skittish, and Yes lethargic He used to eat from my hand. Colors are really good. And of course when ever he is stopped in the water he has the wrong side facing me. I pulled tang and put him into isolation. Where he will have to Stay until Tuesday or Wednesday. Then he goes to fish store. While trying to examin my wrasse he was showing signs of aggression toward the wrasse and a little towered my Kole tang

 

[Kershaw]

I hope tomorrow he is more active and relaxed with out tang there. Any one in Sacramento ca that wants to make a deal on an aggressive purple tang.

 

[melypr1985]

Hopefully so. Keep us updated please!

 

[Kershaw]

Will do. Thank you for all your help.

 

[Humblefish]

If he keeps looking bad, you may need to QT (or put him in an acclimation box) just to provide some R&R away from the other fish.

There's something about a sick/hurt fish that other fish just can't resist. Its like a "kill instinct" they have to finish the sick/hurt fish off.