Help with Indigo dottyback

[afboundguy]

I noticed my Indigo dottyback has a chunk missing from the bottom center. I noticed it a few weeks ago and it was red and looked like it was beaten up by my super nice clowns or a large crab got it. It seems like it is an injury more than a disease.

It ate, swam and acted totally normal and it is all white and looks like it is healing but just curious what others think happened or what it could be?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I noticed my Indigo dottyback has a chunk missing from the bottom center. I noticed it a few weeks ago and it was red and looked like it was beaten up by my super nice clowns or a large crab got it. It seems like it is an injury more than a disease.

It ate, swam and acted totally normal and it is all white and looks like it is healing but just curious what others think happened or what it could be?

Clowns would be my prime suspect and isolation with a divider or a different tank will offer best chance for healing

 

[afboundguy]

Clowns would be my prime suspect and isolation with a divider or a different tank will offer best chance for healing

That was my guess as well as they have started breeding in the tank again. I have never seen that much aggression from the pair but they are old grump 15-16 year old clowns!

Do you think putting it in a QT tank with an antibiotic would help? It already looks much better than it did and I don't see any red in the spot.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That was my guess as well as they have started breeding in the tank again. I have never seen that much aggression from the pair but they are old grump 15-16 year old clowns!

Do you think putting it in a QT tank with an antibiotic would help? It already looks much better than it did and I don't see any red in the spot.

My concern is its location - right by the fish’s anus. This could be an infected prolapse. Even if this was originally from a clownfish bite, its location can be serious - if the intestines are damaged, recovery is unlikely.