Clown with wound on fin

[Cody000125]

Hi all,

Hoping to get some help into what cussed this injury and if I should be worried about it or just let it heal. It looks like 2 puncture wounds through the fin and on the back some of the skin is tearing off a bit. Not sure if it'd be from a fish bite or from one of the urchins in my tank. Any help would be really appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

A photo under white lights would help to see the issue better!

#fishmedics

 

[Cody000125]

A photo under white lights would help to see the issue better!

#fishmedics

This is the best I could get, very hard to get a good picture of it lol.

 

[Cody000125]

This is the best I could get, very hard to get a good picture of it lol.

Not sure why it added the images there, here they are again.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Not sure why it added the images there, here they are again.

Tough to see in the pics, do they look like fluid filled blisters?

Jay

 

[Cody000125]

Tough to see in the pics, do they look like fluid filled blisters?

Jay

Yeah, that's exactly what they look like. I tried searching the forums for fish blisters but didn't find anything lol.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yeah, that's exactly what they look like. I tried searching the forums for fish blisters but didn't find anything lol.

There are two types of clear blisters that show up on fish - fluid filled or gas filled. The latter is from either supersaturation of gas in the water, or the production of gas under the skin due to bacterial infection. However, it looks like your fish has fluid filled bubbles. The cause of this is not known, and it is fairly rare to see. I see it most often on clownfish. I've never had it on one of my own fish, so I've not been able to examine this firsthand. In many cases, this goes away on its own.

 

[Cody000125]

There are two types of clear blisters that show up on fish - fluid filled or gas filled. The latter is from either supersaturation of gas in the water, or the production of gas under the skin due to bacterial infection. However, it looks like your fish has fluid filled bubbles. The cause of this is not known, and it is fairly rare to see. I see it most often on clownfish. I've never had it on one of my own fish, so I've not been able to examine this firsthand. In many cases, this goes away on its own.

Sounds good, thank you!

 

[PharmrJohn]

There are two types of clear blisters that show up on fish - fluid filled or gas filled. The latter is from either supersaturation of gas in the water, or the production of gas under the skin due to bacterial infection. However, it looks like your fish has fluid filled bubbles. The cause of this is not known, and it is fairly rare to see. I see it most often on clownfish. I've never had it on one of my own fish, so I've not been able to examine this firsthand. In many cases, this goes away on its own.

My thoughts.....Fluid filled blisters could be a sign of either a surface wound or secondary bacterial infection (from the same, a surface wound). Without a culture, it's hard to say which (Unless the fluid is yellow in greenish, then I'd say bacterial). I'm presuming the blisters are on the body. In either case, I agree that the issue would probably be self-limiting.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My thoughts.....Fluid filled blisters could be a sign of either a surface wound or secondary bacterial infection (from the same, a surface wound). Without a culture, it's hard to say which (Unless the fluid is yellow in greenish, then I'd say bacterial). I'm presuming the blisters are on the body. In either case, I agree that the issue would probably be self-limiting.

From what I can see in the pics, these blisters/vesicles are on the this fish's fins. The fluid inside the pictures I've seen of other cases seems clear, where bacterial infection associated abscesses are typically cloudy. In this case, the vesicles seem to be the color of the fish's fin.

Just guessing, I think this is caused by either a virus or some localized defect in the fish's ability to osmoregulate. I wish I had better follow up on the cases reported here - some seem to resolve on their own, but in other cases, the fish dies....but if the latter, we have no way of knowing if the fish died from the blisters, or some other concurrent issue.

 

[Cody000125]

From what I can see in the pics, these blisters/vesicles are on the this fish's fins. The fluid inside the pictures I've seen of other cases seems clear, where bacterial infection associated abscesses are typically cloudy. In this case, the vesicles seem to be the color of the fish's fin.

Just guessing, I think this is caused by either a virus or some localized defect in the fish's ability to osmoregulate. I wish I had better follow up on the cases reported here - some seem to resolve on their own, but in other cases, the fish dies....but if the latter, we have no way of knowing if the fish died from the blisters, or some other concurrent issue.

I'll try and get some better pictures later today or find out where I can upload a video. Their fins were fine one day and then the next I noticed 2 puncture wounds which later blistered. Not sure if it's from a fish bite, or from running into an urchin or something else. I'll keep you updated though.

 

[PharmrJohn]

From what I can see in the pics, these blisters/vesicles are on the this fish's fins. The fluid inside the pictures I've seen of other cases seems clear, where bacterial infection associated abscesses are typically cloudy. In this case, the vesicles seem to be the color of the fish's fin.

Just guessing, I think this is caused by either a virus or some localized defect in the fish's ability to osmoregulate. I wish I had better follow up on the cases reported here - some seem to resolve on their own, but in other cases, the fish dies....but if the latter, we have no way of knowing if the fish died from the blisters, or some other concurrent issue.

Interesting. I never really considered the fins to be fleshy enough to support vesicle formation. Well, if there is necrosis in that area, there's a better overall chance of survival I would guess. What I would also guess would be that antibiotic Tx would be more difficult. It would require a greater penetration, so not only would you have to guess what the pathogen is (which would probably be what bacteria is in greatest concentration on the fin itself), but the Tx would need to be of a greater duration. Kind of like bacterial infections of the prostate in humans.

 

[Cody000125]

From what I can see in the pics, these blisters/vesicles are on the this fish's fins. The fluid inside the pictures I've seen of other cases seems clear, where bacterial infection associated abscesses are typically cloudy. In this case, the vesicles seem to be the color of the fish's fin.

Just guessing, I think this is caused by either a virus or some localized defect in the fish's ability to osmoregulate. I wish I had better follow up on the cases reported here - some seem to resolve on their own, but in other cases, the fish dies....but if the latter, we have no way of knowing if the fish died from the blisters, or some other concurrent issue.

Blisters are gone and the fins nearly fully healed :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: