White fluffy patches Bi colour Blenny

PP123 · Sep 17, 2020

Hi

Just hoping for a diagnosis and treatment if needed.
Have a Bi Colour Blenny that has 3 large white patches that appeared overnight..
Is feeding and acting as normal.. been in the tank for over a year.

Tank is stable and religious water change of 20% every 2 weeks.

Only thing added recently was a Pom Pom crab a week ago..

Is it possible the blenny could've been stung by the crab??

I'm preparing to do a big water change incase its bacterial infection, is there anything else I could do also.

Appreciate any advise

Aqua Man · Sep 17, 2020

Looks like an abrasion. Any fighting with other tank mates? Move any rocks around?

PP123 · Sep 18, 2020

Aqua Man said:
Looks like an abrasion. Any fighting with other tank mates? Move any rocks around?

No aggression seen in the tank two ocellaris clowns and a royal gramma.

No rock movement... only thing new was the Pom Pom crab, Blenny sleeps in the rock work maybe got stung/startled during the night.

Was thinking it was bacterial.... but not sure.

Aqua Man · Sep 19, 2020

Could of been startled by the crab. I have never heard of a Pom Pom crab doing any harm to fish. If it was an abrasions, I would think it should of healed by now. Healthy fish heal fast and your tank/fish look well taken care of.

PP123 · Sep 19, 2020

Aqua Man said:
Could of been startled by the crab. I have never heard of a Pom Pom crab doing any harm to fish. If it was an abrasions, I would think it should of healed by now. Healthy fish heal fast and your tank/fish look well taken care of.

Thanks...

The marks are still there but haven't changed for the better or worse.. he is still eating and acting as normal. I'm keeping a close eye on things and have some seachem paraguard to do a dip if things worsen.

Jay Hemdal · Sep 19, 2020

That sure looks like an abrasion to me. Bacteria doesn't grow leaving sharp lines like that. In addition, as long as the fish is feeding normally, it probably isn't a severe infection. Just to check - no lesion on the other side of the fish, right?

Here is a thought about the pom-pom crab. I forget what species of anemone they carry, but as you likely know, they do so as a defense against predators. That means the species of anemone they carry has to have a pretty severe sting! It could possibly be from that.

Jay

PP123 · Sep 21, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
That sure looks like an abrasion to me. Bacteria doesn't grow leaving sharp lines like that. In addition, as long as the fish is feeding normally, it probably isn't a severe infection. Just to check - no lesion on the other side of the fish, right?

Here is a thought about the pom-pom crab. I forget what species of anemone they carry, but as you likely know, they do so as a defense against predators. That means the species of anemone they carry has to have a pretty severe sting! It could possibly be from that.

Jay

Hi Jay

Yes no lesion on the other side.. fish is acting and eating as normal. The marks seem to be reducing in size and not getting worse.. so I think your correct..

I'm suspecting the pom pom crab as they both sleep/roam around the same area..

Thanks for the reply

Jay Hemdal said:
That sure looks like an abrasion to me. Bacteria doesn't grow leaving sharp lines like that. In addition, as long as the fish is feeding normally, it probably isn't a severe infection. Just to check - no lesion on the other side of the fish, right?

Here is a thought about the pom-pom crab. I forget what species of anemone they carry, but as you likely know, they do so as a defense against predators. That means the species of anemone they carry has to have a pretty severe sting! It could possibly be from that.

Jay

Hi Jay

I thinking your correct... the lesion is only on one side. It seems to be healing somewhat and not getting any worse..

I suspect the pom pom crab as they share the same area of the tank,

Thanks for the reply.

Jay Hemdal said:
That sure looks like an abrasion to me. Bacteria doesn't grow leaving sharp lines like that. In addition, as long as the fish is feeding normally, it probably isn't a severe infection. Just to check - no lesion on the other side of the fish, right?

Here is a thought about the pom-pom crab. I forget what species of anemone they carry, but as you likely know, they do so as a defense against predators. That means the species of anemone they carry has to have a pretty severe sting! It could possibly be from that.

Jay

I think your correct, the lesion is only one side and it seems like it's healing somewhat over the last few days.

I suspect the pom pom crab and blenny got into each others way during the night.

Thanks for the reply and I'll keep a close eye on things