Dottyback Beat Up

LiquidSpace

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Two small clowns ravaged my Orchid Dottyback. I stupidly(?) moved the clowns from the 13 gallon to the 200 gallon first and then a week later added the Dottyback.

I just assumed 200 gallons would be enough space for those dang clowns. I guess not. I have have caught the clowns and moved them back to the 13 gallon. The dottyback has the entire 6 foot tank to itself.

It’s swimming and exploring, if it’s alive tomorrow I think I’m in the clear. Any thoughts? Anything I should do?

IMG_1546.jpeg
 

vetteguy53081

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Two small clowns ravaged my Orchid Dottyback. I stupidly(?) moved the clowns from the 13 gallon to the 200 gallon first and then a week later added the Dottyback.

I just assumed 200 gallons would be enough space for those dang clowns. I guess not. I have have caught the clowns and moved them back to the 13 gallon. The dottyback has the entire 6 foot tank to itself.

It’s swimming and exploring, if it’s alive tomorrow I think I’m in the clear. Any thoughts? Anything I should do?

IMG_1546.jpeg
As long as as fish has been isolated from aggressors, it has best chance of healing however the scales and body too are damaged and I would add Ruby Rally pro which is tank safe to aid in healing of skin although it should heal on its own. Other option if it worsens is Seachem neoplex in a separate tank
 

Jay Hemdal

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Two small clowns ravaged my Orchid Dottyback. I stupidly(?) moved the clowns from the 13 gallon to the 200 gallon first and then a week later added the Dottyback.

I just assumed 200 gallons would be enough space for those dang clowns. I guess not. I have have caught the clowns and moved them back to the 13 gallon. The dottyback has the entire 6 foot tank to itself.

It’s swimming and exploring, if it’s alive tomorrow I think I’m in the clear. Any thoughts? Anything I should do?

IMG_1546.jpeg
That’s very surprising. My concern is that the dottyback had some preexisting condition that allowed it to get so beat up by the clowns.

I agree - if you can see that it is eating still, the prognosis for its recovering (if no preexisting condition) is pretty good, dottybacks are tough.
 
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Thanks guys! The fish is alive and seems well. I got a little spooked because I’ve had this guy for three years and think of it more as a pet than just a fish.

In the 13 gallon this guy hung out in a cave and rock and was in there before the clowns by a good year, so it had always had its own territory staked out. But in the 200 it decided to go directly into clown territory for whatever reason.
 
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LiquidSpace

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Hey guys, the fish recovered but now I have another issue. Check out the white marks on its side. This is the only fish in the aquarium, it was originally QT’d using Jay’s guidelines and all fish with it were as well. So we’re at almost 3 years without any contamination.

Could this be scale damage from exploring the rock? The only other biological life in here is a ton of sand and rock from TBS in the sump. I know have seen isopods but doubt that this could be damage from that. Any ideas?

IMG_3839.jpeg IMG_3838.jpeg
 

Jay Hemdal

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Hey guys, the fish recovered but now I have another issue. Check out the white marks on its side. This is the only fish in the aquarium, it was originally QT’d using Jay’s guidelines and all fish with it were as well. So we’re at almost 3 years without any contamination.

Could this be scale damage from exploring the rock? The only other biological life in here is a ton of sand and rock from TBS in the sump. I know have seen isopods but doubt that this could be damage from that. Any ideas?

IMG_3839.jpeg IMG_3838.jpeg
Could it be scarring from the previous issue?
 
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LiquidSpace

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Could it be scarring from the previous issue?

I don’t think so. The photos in the first post are after the clowns had been taken out so there were no more injuries and today is the first day I have noticed this.

The fish is acting normal, digging a cave under a rock, breathing normal. Just being a regular fish.
 

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