Blue Tang Issue ID?

[rogeragrimes]

After QT'ing a new Blue Tang, I moved him over about 6 weeks ago into my DT. Today, I noticed what looks to be either an injury or illness (see attached photo with issue circled in red). I can't tell you how long he's had it, but this morning is the first time I noticed it. Since being in the DT, he frequently gets cleaned by the cleaner shrimp and occasionally rubs against rocks (which concerns me), but I've had other fish do that too with no big issues. The injury/illness is circular and looks like fine hairs coming out. The photo shows the hairs, although this particular show makes them look bigger and more apparent than they are. In front of this injury site is some white shading, like he's been sandpapered a bit, but it doesn't show up in the photo at all. His behavior hasn't changed. He's eating, and doesn't appear sick. None of the other fish are showing any signs of anything. We do have a crab or two in the tank, as well as a mantis/pistol shrimp we can't get rid of (after over a year) so it could be a wound.

 

[rogeragrimes]

Sorry about the poor picture, but he's a Blue Hippo Tang, and is constantly moving, and wary of my attempts to get a good picture of him. The white dots you might see are spirorbid worms on the glass and not ich.

 

[rogeragrimes]

Whatever it was he recovered from it. It disappeared. I'm assuming it was a physical injury of some time.

 

[MG98]

Looks like a scratch. Maybe got it during capture/transfer?

 

[rogeragrimes]

He's been in the tank for months without the injury for sure, so it was due to human intervention. I'm guessing one of my crabs or pistol shrimps got him. I think all my crabs are gone now, but the pistol shrimp has been evading capture over year (no matter what I try).

 

[Khazmodain]

Pistol shrimps are great additions, you shouldn't have any issues with one in your tank. Mine came as a hitchhiker since I got my live rock 8 years ago. Mantis shrimp are another story.