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.

 

[afboundguy]

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.

It has been like this for over 2 weeks and I was concerned about similar issues but it keeps eating like a pig and acting totally normal so hopefully it isn't that serious.

 

[Uncle99]

Had exactly the same thing happen on the same fish in the same spot.

The damaged repaired itself over a month without any intervention by me.

There’s no way any of my fish can be caught, so they are on their own.

 

[afboundguy]

Had exactly the same thing happen on the same fish in the same spot.

The damaged repaired itself over a month without any intervention by me.

That's good to hear. As I said it seems to be getting better and seems like the consensus is it is an attack and not a disease.

I think I'll leave it in the current tank since it's improving and not risk stressing him out trying to catch him as he's an absolute nightmare to catch and I would probably have to remove all the rockwork.

If it gets worse I'll capture him and QT him with some antibiotics.

 

[Uncle99]

That's good to hear. As I said it seems to be getting better and seems like the consensus is it is an attack and not a disease.

I think I'll leave it in the current tank since it's improving and not risk stressing him out trying to catch him as he's an absolute nightmare to catch and I would probably have to remove all the rockwork.

If it gets worse I'll capture him and QT him with some antibiotics.

That sounds like a super plan!
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