White fuzzy cotton near gills?

alexsreeffish · Jul 2, 2021

Hello,
I recently went to my local fish store and saw a coral beauty for sale. I bought it and took it home but then noticed some white fuzzy cotton near my fish’s gills? I have no idea what it is can anyone help identify?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 2, 2021

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Centropyge angelfish have spines on their gill covers that often get snagged in nets. This could have happened when the fish was caught up at the store. However, I can also see some frayed fins on the back part of the dorsal fin. Was it like that before you bought it? If not, what fish do you have in your tank, anything that might have bitten it?

Jay

alexsreeffish · Jul 3, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Centropyge angelfish have spines on their gill covers that often get snapped in nets. This could have happened when the fish was caught up at the store. However, I can also see some frayed fins on the back part of the dorsal fin. Was it like that before you bought it? If not, what fish do you have in your tank, anything that might have bitten it?

Jay

I have a scopas tang, naked cinnamon clown, darwin clown, yellow blennie, 2 cardinal fish, and now a royal gramma. The tang has been going up to the coral beauty but I thought they will do fine together

Jay Hemdal · Jul 3, 2021

alexsreeffish said:
I have a scopas tang, naked cinnamon clown, darwin clown, yellow blennie, 2 cardinal fish, and now a royal gramma. The tang has been going up to the coral beauty but I thought they will do fine together

Scopas can be pretty mean, but if your yellow blenny is a Midas, that could be the culprit.
Jay

alexsreeffish · Jul 3, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Scopas can be pretty mean, but if your yellow blenny is a Midas, that could be the culprit.
Jay

What I think happened is that the stuff is from an injury from a rock in the tank she was in at the fish store. There was another fish in there with her that sold so that one probably was the one who picked on her