Fish Keep Getting Cuts and Scrapes!!!

[downhillbiker]

My fish keep showing up with cuts and scrape marks and I dont know what is happening. I think it may be my longspine sea urchin, and the fish keep swimming into it. They never get infections, but is there anything I can do? Do i need to get rid of the urchin?

 

[dwd5813]

is there a bully in the tank?

 

[Longchamp]

Your fish aren't stupid, they wont just swim blindly into an urchin.

 

[downhillbiker]

No bully's in the tank. I have 2 tangs and know that they are capable of doing this, but not a single fish ever fights or shows any agression in the tank. I dont even know if the Regal and Tomini tang have the major spines like others do.

As far as swimming blindly, no they wont do that, but I have witnessed them whip around a corner and run into it before, not blind, just inatentive driving. They usually back up and go around, but I have witnessed it first hand.

I am just hoping they will learn that the urchin is sharp.

 

[Bruno3047]

Have you ever watched the fish after the tank lights go out, and there is very little ambient light in the room?

I once had the same problem with a prized Scribbled angel showing bruises and nipped fins, but the tank looked peaceful during the day.

At my wits end, I finally waited one night for the tank lights to go out then shut the room lights but left the kitchen light on, just enough light so I could see what was going on in the tanks.

Sure enough, my adult Flame angel was seen chasing my brand new juvenile Scribbled angel all over the tank.

Needless to say, the Flame was gone the next day.

 

[downhillbiker]

i have blue moon LED and watch them every night. i am one of those people that watches for hours each day...literally.

all of my fish go to their hiding spots and go to sleep. they dont fight at night. i am sure of that. i really am thinking this is an urchin problem.

but i dont want to get rid of my urchin. will they learn?

 

[Bruno3047]

Could you take the Urchin out of the tank for a while and see if your suspicions are correct? At least this way you'll know for sure.

Then you can decide what to do next.

 

[dwd5813]

how tight are your rocks? i ask with the idea in mind that perhaps your fish are scraping against the rocks when they hide for the night. what do the wounds look like, specifically? i would imagine a wound from an urchin to look more like a laceration than a scrape. or even a puncture wound.

 

[maluskeeter]

do you have any pics of the wounds?

thats a crazy story Bruno3047 about the flame angel - BAM! lights are off, im gettin you!!

 

[Bruno3047]

All true. Never would have guessed it, but I couldn't think of anything else.

And when I say chased, I mean they were zipping all over the tank.

 

[downhillbiker]

yeah. i will get some pics tomorrow if i can. you know how hard it is with fish, especially tangs. but i will try. the scrape is a definite groove about 1" long from just behind the tang's eye back. it has definite depth to it. just a white color.

my rocks are tight and they do squeeze into tight spots to sleep. maybe that is the culprit.

 

[Bruno3047]

I know you're probably going to think I'm nuts, but when I saw the Flame chasing the Scribbled, I was watching from a distance.

The fish didn't know I was watching. To this day, I'm convinced that the Flame would wait for me to leave the room before going after the Scribbled.

FWIW.

 

[downhillbiker]

I'll pay attention, but so far in my watching nothing moves at night except for crabs and shrimp and snails. but i will watch, just to make sure. its always worth a shot.

 

[dwd5813]

binoculars from the other room, imo. :lol:
seriously though, i agree with the thought of being as non-present as possible while observing the tank in this way.

 

[Bruno3047]

This discussion has definitely brought a reminiscing smile to my face. When I think back, I was actually PEEKING at the tank from behind a wall.

The things we do.....

 

[maluskeeter]

lol..thats too funny...man fish have some crazy personalities

 

[ClarionAngel]

it might be lateral line disease , just throwing it out there if its coming from the back of its eye

 

[downhillbiker]

Its gone today. Whatever it was i guess the scrape wasnt too bad. I will not worry about it. I dont think that it is lateral line disease with as healthy as my fish are. the tang just has too much pigment and overall body health for that. and it doesnt look like it. i guess the case closed itself.