Do fish bruise?

iwishtofish · 07/19/2007, 08:53 AM

My flame angel of about 10 days (which I thought was on death's door after I did a water change) is now acting much more normal and is eating quite readily. However, the news is not all good.

I recently observed a dark, elongated patch on the "forehead" of the fish, amd I'm wondering if this might be bruising or if it is a typical sign of disease. After my first water change with the fish, he was acting strange and actually "rammed" his reflection in the glass a few times. Also, I have made the mistake of not having any other lights on in the room when the timer switched off my lights - perhaps the fish panicked and ran into the rocks at this point...

I'll try to post a picture tonight if the fish cooperates. Has anyone ever had a fish bruise itself?

somethingphishy · 07/19/2007, 09:46 AM

you could try adding some slime coat to the tank----but of course your skimmer will go nuts.........my tomato has left teeth marks on other fish/so it is quite possible that your fish scraped off a outer layer of skin.....keep a close watch to make sure is is not a disease...maybe "hole in the head"

Alto · 07/19/2007, 09:52 AM

Hole in the head would appear as white circles or patches not dark spots.

I have had fish get bumped and have similar looking symptoms to bruising. It could also just be some kind of stress coloration, as you said he was recently not doing well.

iwishtofish · 07/19/2007, 10:04 AM

I am hoping it's not hole in the head - it definitely is a very dark patch - almost similar to the natural black markings on the body. Appetite is good, behavior looks good (swims all over, picks deliberately, is curious when I am around the tank, eats LOTS). Just the one fin had a "thin" looking spot, and is not ragged.

I think stress from the water change is a good possibility. Maybe I need to pump the new water I add to the sump into the DT a little more slowly, and check salinity with a refractometer instead of a hydrometer.

Thanks to both for your input!

mr_o98 · 07/19/2007, 10:38 AM

You can add garlic or Selcon to the food to help build up the immune system. This may help the wound heal faster.

Sk8r · 07/19/2007, 10:40 AM

A bruise is perfusion of blood through tissues where blood vessels have ruptured, usually through impact: if you have blood vessels, you can bruise.

iwishtofish · 07/19/2007, 01:16 PM

mr_o98, I'll look into the garlic products. I'm sure his immune system needs a boost regardless!

Sk8r, that's kind of what I figured, but wasn't sure if it was likely from the behavior I observed. It is a weird thing...I've never seen this kind of appearance change in the photos I've seen, and I've also heard that flame angel markings don't generally change either. Anyway, with luck it is a bruise that will heal!

07/19/2007, 08:53 AM	#1
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Do fish bruise? My flame angel of about 10 days (which I thought was on death's door after I did a water change) is now acting much more normal and is eating quite readily. However, the news is not all good. I recently observed a dark, elongated patch on the "forehead" of the fish, amd I'm wondering if this might be bruising or if it is a typical sign of disease. After my first water change with the fish, he was acting strange and actually "rammed" his reflection in the glass a few times. Also, I have made the mistake of not having any other lights on in the room when the timer switched off my lights - perhaps the fish panicked and ran into the rocks at this point... I'll try to post a picture tonight if the fish cooperates. Has anyone ever had a fish bruise itself?

07/19/2007, 09:46 AM	#2
somethingphishy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fleetwood, pa Posts: 852	you could try adding some slime coat to the tank----but of course your skimmer will go nuts.........my tomato has left teeth marks on other fish/so it is quite possible that your fish scraped off a outer layer of skin.....keep a close watch to make sure is is not a disease...maybe "hole in the head" __________________ "Set the gearshift for the high gear Of your soul, you've got to run like An antelope out of control!" Current Tank Info: 50g/20l sump

07/19/2007, 10:38 AM	#5
mr_o98 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pen Argyl, PA Posts: 600	You can add garlic or Selcon to the food to help build up the immune system. This may help the wound heal faster. __________________ Sometimes I amaze even myself. I feel like I have TWO brilliant minds. Current Tank Info: 90g fish only tank, Green Chromis, Ocellaris clown, 6 line Wrasse, Convict Tang, Foxface Lo, Decorator Goby, Lemon Drop butterfly, Flameback Angel - 30g sump, Euro Reef skimmer, 2 250w MH

07/19/2007, 10:40 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A bruise is perfusion of blood through tissues where blood vessels have ruptured, usually through impact: if you have blood vessels, you can bruise. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/19/2007, 09:52 AM	#3
Alto Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Youngtown Az Posts: 506	Hole in the head would appear as white circles or patches not dark spots. I have had fish get bumped and have similar looking symptoms to bruising. It could also just be some kind of stress coloration, as you said he was recently not doing well.

07/19/2007, 10:04 AM	#4
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	I am hoping it's not hole in the head - it definitely is a very dark patch - almost similar to the natural black markings on the body. Appetite is good, behavior looks good (swims all over, picks deliberately, is curious when I am around the tank, eats LOTS). Just the one fin had a "thin" looking spot, and is not ragged. I think stress from the water change is a good possibility. Maybe I need to pump the new water I add to the sump into the DT a little more slowly, and check salinity with a refractometer instead of a hydrometer. Thanks to both for your input!

07/19/2007, 01:16 PM	#7
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	mr_o98, I'll look into the garlic products. I'm sure his immune system needs a boost regardless! Sk8r, that's kind of what I figured, but wasn't sure if it was likely from the behavior I observed. It is a weird thing...I've never seen this kind of appearance change in the photos I've seen, and I've also heard that flame angel markings don't generally change either. Anyway, with luck it is a bruise that will heal!