Somebody hurt my baby

[Fmellish]

I have had my Sailfin Tang for about 3 weeks. He was the picture of health until this morning when I saw his fins were torn up. Instead of smooth oval fins on his backside it now looks like a jig saw blade.

yesterday his fins were perfect.

What could be the causes of overnight fin destruction?

1) Attacked by another critter? (2 percs, 1 6line wrasse, 1 brittle star, 1 sand star, 1 cleaner shrimp, 4 hermits, 10 snails)
2) Some kind of fast acting overnight disease that eats away at fins?
3) Scraped up against a rock?
4) Had a bad encounter with my Tunze powerhead


Aside from the gashes in his fins, he is swimming well and very colorful and eating like a pig, (as usual). So the affect seems to only be cosmetic at this point.

Please help, I am dieing to know what happened to him last night, and is there any way to repair him? Will he die with the poor fins now? Or will he re grow them? ANd most importantly, what the heck happened?

The only change to the tank in recent days was the addition of the 2 baby percs.

http://fmellish.shackspace.com/aquarium/

Thank you
Josh

 

[Lv2_play]

Possibly the clowns, if the tang drifted over to their territory, but if the clowns are smaller than the tang, maybe not.

Any hitchhikers in your rock? I know you didnt mention an anemone, but if seen fish get torn up or even killed by getting too close.

 

[Fmellish]

I'm pretty familiar with my live rock. I know where all of the worms are. I don't have an anemone, only the livestock I mentioned.

The clowns are tiny compared to the Tang. He could fit them in his belly if it weren't for his tiny mouth. I initially figured it was the clowns, but they are so small, and his fins are so badly damged.

Could my brittle star have gottena hold of him?

I don't know.

 

[dchao]

No, two percs can't hurt a tang, tangs are way too fast.

IMO, it could be a bad evil hitchhiker in the LR's. You have to get a flash light and do some investigation during the night. (make the tank completely dark for 1-2 hour before investigate)

The fin will heal over 1-2 month, that's if you can remove the cause of it. Good luck!

 

[water`bug]

My Blonde Naso terrorized my Sailfin when I first introduced him. In fact, she has taken a bite out of his fin a couple of times...and it's amazing how quickly they come back.

I realize this isn't a solution... but hope to put your mind at ease, somewhat.

Good luck!

water`bug

 

[Fmellish]

Thanks guys!

I am relieved to know that the tissue will regenerate. Everyone in the tank gets along so well and seems to happy.

It must be an evil critter or an encounter with something mechanical.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Fmellish]

Just an update, the tang's fins are back to perfect now.

Thanks
Josh