Rabbitfish fin trouble

tank81fire · Jul 13, 2013

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me figure out what to do about my Magnificent Foxface. Came home a few days ago and found that the foxface had a big bruise on his right fin. We had introduced a new fish the day before and I'm guessing they were fighting a little. Everything is fine now and the tank has settled down down. Tank is a 125 gallon that has been set up for about 8 months. The foxface is eating great and moving about normally (except he doesn't use that fin much), but I'm worried about him. Does it look like he's got a secondary infection? My cleaner shrimp and neon goby are cleaning on the foxface constantly. Water chemistry is great. Haven't treated the tank with an antibiotic because its a reef tank and I haven't moved the foxface to the quarantine because its going to be so difficult to catch him without tearing the tank apart and I didn't want to stress him any more. Any suggestions if I need to move him to the quarantine or leave him in his home and keep letting the cleaner shrimp and neon goby do their thing? Will his fin grow back?

Thanks!

AlexG · Jul 14, 2013

If the foxface is eating and the cleaner shrimp and gobie are being utilized by the fish I would just give it time. Fins and bruises can heal over time even if the fish is not using the fin fully it might heal over time. It is a fine line between catching the fish for quarantine and letting nature take its course. The added stress to the fish being captured and put int a quarantine tank might just make its condition worse. Its a coin toss but, personally I would give it time. If the fish really starts to change for the worse and might die I would remove to a quarantine system. Do you know what fish was the attacker?