Can you say Holy Bristle Beard!!

[J4Life]

Well after cutting my lights off for about 36 hours to help reduce a little red slime outbreak I discovered that the algae has really diminished and my fancy tail blenny now has a "bristle beard":eek1:

During the time with the lights off he must have tried to take on a fairly good sized bristle worm/fire worm because his poor face is all jacked up!!

I got to give the little fella credit though. He is just as active as ever and hunting down food to eat the moment I through it in the tank.

I will see if I can try and snap a picture and post it later. I feel sort of sorry for the guy. I know it has to hurt. I have gotten the little bristles in my skin before and they irritate you like crazy.

Anyone else ever had a fish jacked up by a bristle worm?

Thanks

 

[jayelblock]

must see a picture of this...

 

[evsalty]

This thread is useless without what?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Bueller?

 

[Superstretch18]

I've seen that happen to pseudochromis before. Difference is that those actually eat bristleworms. Not sure why a blenny thought tangling with a bw was a good idea!

I wouldn't worry about it though; they should grow out in a week or so...

 

[LoyalConvict]

 

[Dave Harms]

 

[J4Life]

Guys although I do appreciate your humor I would prefer that unless you have something to actually contribute, please do not post in this thread.

As I stated in my first post I will try and get a picture soon. I am just not at a point that I can.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15331462#post15331462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Superstretch18
I've seen that happen to pseudochromis before. Difference is that those actually eat bristleworms. Not sure why a blenny thought tangling with a bw was a good idea!

I wouldn't worry about it though; they should grow out in a week or so...

Thanks Superstretch. I wasn't to worried about it since he has been moving around fine and eating.

 

[ladyonyx]

Poor guy. I'm sure he'll be fine though, especially if it isn't effecting his eating habits. I guess he won't be trying to eat bristle worms anymore...

 

[J4Life]

I am not even sure why he tried in the first place. Maybe he thinks he is part wrasse now that I have a sixline in the tank with him.

 

[J4Life]

Ok as promised here is a picture of the little fella with a mouth loaded up with bristles. It isn't the best picture but it was all I could get. He wasn't cooperating very well.

So no more mutiny about pictures.

 

[luther1200]

Oooooww. Can you catch him, and maybe pluck them out with tweezers? That looks painful, but they say fish don't have much feeling in there mouths. Although I am not sure how true that is.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15332565#post15332565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
Oooooww. Can you catch him, and maybe pluck them out with tweezers? That looks painful, but they say fish don't have much feeling in there mouths. Although I am not sure how true that is.

No chance in catching this guy he has been in my tank too long and is fast. Plus I try to keep my hands out of the tank. My Yellow Tang has gotten the habit of trying to spine lately. He thinks he is boss!

 

[luther1200]

He should be alright. It just might take some time for the bristles to work there way out.

 

[J4Life]

Yeah he should recover well. It must have been a big honking bristle worm though. The spines are pretty big.

I have a couple large ones in my sump but I haven't seen any large ones in the main display tank. Not sure I want too either.

 

[JAustin]

If he had feeling in his face before he doesn't now!

He should work them out. Is he eating? If he is still eating I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15333089#post15333089 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JAustin
If he had feeling in his face before he doesn't now!

He should work them out. Is he eating? If he is still eating I wouldn't sweat it.

I'm not sweating it. He is eating like a champ!! It is all sort of funny when you think about it. A blenny trying to chomp down a bristle worm. Too bad I didn't witness it first hand. Instead I turn my lights back on to find Santa Claus in my tank.:lol:

 

[tank o tang]

Can't imagine he feels to much pain, can't be any worse then bashing and dragging his lips over rock all day.

 

[J4Life]

You have a good point there. I just don't see how they can stomach swallowing gravel either.