Injury or Illness

laga77

New member
I have had a hold on a pipefish at the LFS for the past five days. When I went to pick him up today, he has a mark on his side. It was not there two days ago. I cannot tell if it is an injury or some type of illness. When I first saw it, it looked exactly like a small Asterina starfish was stuck on his side. He is in a QT and is eating. This question is also posted in the Disease Section.
 
It started looking better, right at the end, almost like it was getting thiner or less dense. I did not treat because I had no idea what it was, and the fish was still eating.
 
The seastar (it's not a fish!) would be long gone and just have caused the initial damage. Bacterial and other infections would have done the rest.

Though with a pipefish, especially with a free swimming species like Duncerocampus, I doubt that a seastar would be able to hitch a ride. Also, unlike seahorses, these pipefish don't have algae growing on them that would attract a seastar.

It may have been the bite of an isopod (Argulus, fish lice) or a coral sting that got infected.
Uronema marinum would also always be an option with open wounds.
 
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