Help! Wrasse losing its scales

[fishyz]

Yesterday, I noticed that my lubbocks fairy wrasse which I have had for about a year now didn't come out at all. I searched around the tank, but still, could not find him. When i fed everyone in the tank, he pocked out of the rock, and i noticed he is missing patches of scales. I did find some blue circluar discs on my sandbed, which at the time i dicovered them, i had no idea what they were. I know know that they are his scales. Today, he came out to eat, but he has lost more scales. Why would he be losing his scales? thanks for the help

 

[anydarnthing]

He is being attacked, I have been keeping fairy wrasses for over 4 years and they only lose scales from being nipped by another fish, that would also explain why he was hiding for awhile. I have never heard of a disease in wrasses where they lose scales I'm not saying there isn't but I never heard of of it. What other fish do you have with him?

 

[fishyz]

There is one other wrasse in with him, a ruby head fairy wrasse. My lubbocks has always been the one chasing the ruby around. the other fish include and firefish, neon goby, 3 dispar anthias, a jawfish, and a striped bristletooth tang, and none of them are any threat to him.

 

[Antiloser24]

Did you check the ammonia level in your reef ???! Cause i know that depending on the fishes health, including how stressed it is, even the littlest amount of ammonia can cause the fish to "burn" making it lose its scales. I remember this back in fresh, and just found out it can also occur in salt. Go on google.com and search Ammonia Burn, or Ammonia Burn In Saltwater, or something else similar, to get more info. Because i dont remember much ....
Hope i helped :]

 

[anydarnthing]

If it was ammonia all the fish would be affected, and he has been in the tank for a year. I bet the Ruby headed is now exerting dominance since they grow larger then the Lubbocks. It should pass after awhile after they finish finding out who is the boss.

 

[emcmilla]

I'm having a similar problem with my clown fairy wrasse. I don't think it is from bullying because mine is in a tank by himself...

 

[aquaph8]

My bet is on your two wrasses going back and fourth. In my tank my earls and rhomboid have bouts like this once in a great while but they normally work it out and everyone heals.

If it's more than a scale or two, I'd consider moving one out of there.