Melanurus wrasse

[Joem820]

So came downstairs this morning and saw this on my wrasse who I have had for over a year. I got him out of the tank but he died almost instantly after i got him in a qt tank. Could someone tell me if this looks like an injury or a disease and if so, what is it and how do i treat my other fish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like fish was picked at after you found it. Typically the stomach and then the eyes are targeted.

 

[Joem820]

Looks like fish was picked at after you found it. Typically the stomach and then the eyes are targeted.

I've seen that before, but never when the fish was still alive. Is that a common occurrence for them to pick at a dying fish before they pass? When i pulled him from the tank he was still swimming and breathing which is why i was worried about possible diseases.

 

[dwair]

Sorry for your fish loss :(

 

[Staghorn]

Do you have an eel, big crab or any other inhabitant in the tank that could’ve caused that injury?

 

[Joem820]

Do you have an eel, big crab or any other inhabitant in the tank that could’ve caused that injury?

I do have a snowflake eel, who I suspect is the culprit, I figured that is what happened, but wanted to make sure I wasn't mistaking it for an illness that I just don't recognize.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I do have a snowflake eel, who I suspect is the culprit, I figured that is what happened, but wanted to make sure I wasn't mistaking it for an illness that I just don't recognize.

My bet is on the snowflake. The only disease that causes primary lesions that look like that is Uronema. Common in newly acquired wrasse, but not long term captives. Also, those lesions aren’t that deep and develop over days.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've seen that before, but never when the fish was still alive. Is that a common occurrence for them to pick at a dying fish before they pass? When i pulled him from the tank he was still swimming and breathing which is why i was worried about possible diseases.

Normal- pretty much. Fish and inverts scavenge on weak fish and carcasses