Scopas tang stung by rbta?

[meir]

I recently noticed that my scopas tang had some black lesions on its mouth and I suspect it's because it's been poking around near my rbta......I'd like to know what u think

 

[melypr1985]

That looks a little more serious than simple Hypermalinization (which I can't spell worth a lick)

Any chance he got injured some other way? It looks to have been scraped on the rocks and is getting infected maybe.

 

[cmcoker]

Any fighting between it and the sailfin tang? How big are those two?

 

[meir]

Any fighting between it and the sailfin tang? How big are those two?

They don't fight just the very occasional bickering but it never gets serious, the sf is abt 2 inches long snout to tail and the scopas is abt 4 1/2

 

[meir]

That looks a little more serious than simple Hypermalinization (which I can't spell worth a lick)

Any chance he got injured some other way? It looks to have been scraped on the rocks and is getting infected maybe.

It's only on the lips and there and it's happened before but it went away

 

[meir]

There is also an adult coral beauty with them

 

[melypr1985]

It's only on the lips and there and it's happened before but it went away

In that case, I would just keep a watch on it. If it worsens or spreads then we can talk about intervention.

 

[meir]

In that case, I would just keep a watch on it. If it worsens or spreads then we can talk about intervention.

It never spreads and I've seen it poke around near the nem so I think it could be a bad sting. Do stings look like that

 

[melypr1985]

It never spreads and I've seen it poke around near the nem so I think it could be a bad sting. Do stings look like that

No, I've never seen hypermalinization look like that. It usually looks like this:

 

[meir]

No, I've never seen hypermalinization look like that. It usually looks like this:

But yet again, the clownfish has scales to protect them the tang doesn't, like a burn if u have some level of protection the burn won't be as severe as if you had no protection at all...no?

 

[davocean]

I don't think it looks like anything from an anemone, my first thought was also the sailfin, it only takes one little tail swipe

 

[meir]

I don't think it looks like anything from an anemone, my first thought was also the sailfin, it only takes one little tail swipe

A tail swipe can do that?

 

[melypr1985]

But yet again, the clownfish has scales to protect them the tang doesn't, like a burn if u have some level of protection the burn won't be as severe as if you had no protection at all...no?

Your tang has scales as well as the clownfish. It's more about slimecoats that protect them from these things.

 

[meir]

Your tang has scales as well as the clownfish. It's more about slimecoats that protect them from these things.

Aha so you think it was a tail swipe

 

[meir]

Are their switchblades venomous

 

[davocean]

A tail swipe can do that?

Oh heck yeah, if you've ever been tail swiped you'll never forget it, like a razor at the end of a rubber band hitting you, happened to me once long ago.

 

[melypr1985]

Are their switchblades venomous

No, they are not venomous, but they are sharp. Like I said, watch it closely and if it's not healed in a week, or has gotten worse before then medication will be needed.

 

[meir]

No, they are not venomous, but they are sharp. Like I said, watch it closely and if it's not healed in a week, or has gotten worse before then medication will be needed.

Like what kind of meds

 

[melypr1985]

Like what kind of meds

Well, if it doesn't heal or gets worse, then it's probably gotten infected at that point. Antibiotics will be needed to help him heal if it hasn't improved. Kanaplex, furan2 and even metroplex can be added to that group if needed. The first two are the most important.

 

[davocean]

Are their switchblades venomous

I saw that debated once, think on here, most would say no, but I'm sure at the very least can cause nasty infection.