Puffer fish bit by grey bamboo shark

[brianhama]

My dog faced puffer fish and juvenile grey bamboo shark both went after the same piece of squid and the puffer ended up getting a bite to his face. They had been living together for weeks without any issues prior whatsoever. It doesn’t seem like the bite was very bad because the puffer continued to go for the squid and eat it. He has been swimming around the tank fine for the past 15 minutes. The bite mark is visible though. Is there any sort of treatment that I should administer? Or should I just keep an eye on him?

 

[tzabor10]

Fish with teeth are too scary for most of us. Thanks for your bravery

 

[NanoNana]

It’s a wound for sure. I don’t keep true predators in my saltwater but with my freshies fish bites were not uncommon and I usually just watched the area for signs of infection. People with puffers will be a better resource than I. They should be along soon.
You can also post in fish disease thread. We need a tank thread from you. Bamboos are so cool.

 

[sfin52]

Fish with teeth are too scary for most of us. Thanks for your bravery

Our fish have teeth just not ws big. Take a look at a clowns mouth

 

[blecki]

Clowns know how to use them too.

Anyway watch it for infection. It will probably heal up fine. It looks like it's just bruising and not an actual chunk bitten out, right?

 

[twentyleagues]

Clowns know how to use them too.

Anyway watch it for infection. It will probably heal up fine. It looks like it's just bruising and not an actual chunk bitten out, right?

Bamboo sharks dont have cutting teeth so it would take a lot for one to remove a chunk. They have a sort of hinged tooth system that has a flat edge for crushing and a pointed tip for grasping. While the pointed tip is no fun (ask me how I know) it is less damaging than a tooth from a shark with teeth like a tiger or black tip.

I would watch for signs of infection and be ready to treat. Other than that just wait. I have had this happen a couple times, usually with healthy fish no issues.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That looks superficial to me. I would just watch for secondary bacterial infection, but that is unlikely. Signs of that would be redness and/or the lesion growing in size as opposed to getting smaller over time. Other symptoms might be the puffer not eating (due to the location of the injury).