Tail rot or a pestering Hermit crab?

[mk1151]

This is the best I could do because he's a fast little sucker. Yellowtail Coris Wrasse. I noticed this just this morning - he was fine yesterday. Been in the tank for 4 days. I assume tail rot wouldn't just magically take a chunk out of a tail overnight, so does this mean he got into a tussle with a Hermit crab?

Tank inhabitants:
- Turbo snails
- Hermit crabs
- (1) Queen angel
- (1) Flagtail
- (1) Sandsifter starfish



Water quality is perfect (all 0s), no one else is showing any signs of a problem, and the Yellowtail is behaving and eating normally.

Thanks all

[leebca]

It doesn't have the general appearance of a bacterial infection (fin/tail rot). A 'chunk' missing is usually caused by an attack. It could be fish or crab, no way for me to tell. However, hermit crabs are known to get testy and belligerent as they age. I would not have them in my tank.

If the area around the missing bit of fin is clean, clear, then it was definitely an attack. If the area is cloudy and irregular, then bacteria are setting in and the fish may need help fending off a bacterial infection.

All things being equal, if the fish is http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...nutrition.html and no further attacks occur, it should heal on its own in a few weeks.

[mk1151]

It doesn't have the general appearance of a bacterial infection (fin/tail rot). A 'chunk' missing is usually caused by an attack. It could be fish or crab, no way for me to tell. However, hermit crabs are known to get testy and belligerent as they age. I would not have them in my tank.

If the area around the missing bit of fin is clean, clear, then it was definitely an attack. If the area is cloudy and irregular, then bacteria are setting in and the fish may need help fending off a bacterial infection.

All things being equal, if the fish is http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...nutrition.html and no further attacks occur, it should heal on its own in a few weeks.

Thank you!

It's clean - no cloudiness or rough edges, just a chunk missing and it isn't spreading to the other fins.

I only have 10 little hermits in a 220 gallon tank so I was hoping they wouldn't pester... perhaps I'll put something in the tank that eats hermits. (kidding)

I appreciate the reply!