Injured Butterfly Fish

torrancejones

torrancejones

Member
This isnt really a disease question, but rather my fish is injured. Last night I put some new fish into my 55 gal tank. (trigger, naso tang, pearlscale butterfly). Aside from how scared the fish were they all seemed to be ok. I did notice that the tang and the butterfly were swimming "laps" around the tank at pretty high speeds. I think this is normal for tangs, im not sure about butterflys.
When I woke up this morning I noticed that the butterfly had a cut along its side. It doesnt look like a bite mark, and it doesnt look like any sort of festering sore. It was definitely some sort of cut. My hunch is that the butterfly ran into a rock and cut himself.
As the day has progressed the cut looks more bruised. I have also noticed that the butterfly is swimming more and more clumsily as the day has progressed. None of the other fish seem to be bothering him.
My question is, what can I do for him other than be patient and leave him alone. I tried to feed him but he didnt eat. He does seem to be having more difficuly breathing so I dont think he is on the upside to recovery.
Here is my tank status:
55 gal, salinity 1.022, ammonie <= .5, nitrates and nitrates are near 0, ph 8.0 - 8.2, temp 79, 50 lbs live rock, 50 lbs cc.
other tankmates: 2 snails, scooter blenny, 2 percs, 1 trigger, 1 blonde naso tang.
--Tor
 
torrancejones

torrancejones

Member
Hmmm, ok well the butterfly died. That was faster than I thought. When I removed him from the tank his cut looked like it was still bleeding slowely. I wonder if he passed from loss of blood (stress probably contributed as well)?
Would stress be a resonable cause of why his cut didnt clot? It was a pretty big cut and I know that I am not a fish physician, but it didnt look like a cut that wass life threatening. The cut was maybe 1/4 inch.
--Tor
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Was the cut a real clean cut, like a knife? If so, you can bet that the one of the tangs sworded him. If that is the case, the cut would be deep. Tang sword also carries a good deal of bacteria on it which causes festering wounds. Stress, the onset of an infection and the wound itself would cause this.
 
torrancejones

torrancejones

Member
Yeah this sounds like a possibility. Though I didnt know tangs could "sword" other fish. This morning the cut did look pretty clean. There was no tearing on the cut at first. Then as the day progressed the cut did seem to fester.
Thanks,
--Tor
 
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