Help! My flasher wrasse is getting infections possibly due to bullying

mossimo654 · 12/08/2017, 06:31 PM

Hi all,

I have a 55g tank. I have a flasher wrasse and a melanurus wrasse. I did the right thing and added my melanurus after the flasher because I know they can be occasionally aggressive even though I read it's unlikely.

For the first few months there were no issues, with the flasher even occasionally defending territory by chasing the melanurus.

However I moved a few months ago and thus my rockwork and tank were changed. Since then the Melanurus has become the dominant one, chasing my flasher. Initially I thought it wasn't that big of a deal since the flasher is faster and is eating, not hiding at all etc.

However a month and a half ago the flasher developed Popeye, was lethargic etc. I thought I might lose him. Fortunately after a few days he healed up and completely returned to normal.

However two days ago I noticed the flasher started to again develop Popeye. It is only slightly bulged and hasn't gotten noticeably worse, though not better. He's still eating and swimming normallly.

Today however I noticed he is missing scales in two places. I'm having a hard time getting a pic but will send one if I do. There's a white patch on his head near the affected eye, and a very small white patch on his dorsal fin. I'm pretty positive it's not ich.

Anyway I'm guessing these incidents are related to the Melanurus. My water quality is good, and I have a few other fish that show no signs of infection.

My question: what do I do about this? I like the Melanurus a lot and I'm hoping the answer is not getting rid of him, but it seems like he's the most logical culprit unless anyone has any other ideas.

mossimo654 · 12/08/2017, 06:47 PM

Update: literally as I'm observing and trying to get a pic I watch the melanurus strike the flasher and I'm pretty sure actually see a scale float away. ***. Is it time to give him away?

12/08/2017, 06:31 PM	#1
mossimo654 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 78	Help! My flasher wrasse is getting infections possibly due to bullying Hi all, I have a 55g tank. I have a flasher wrasse and a melanurus wrasse. I did the right thing and added my melanurus after the flasher because I know they can be occasionally aggressive even though I read it's unlikely. For the first few months there were no issues, with the flasher even occasionally defending territory by chasing the melanurus. However I moved a few months ago and thus my rockwork and tank were changed. Since then the Melanurus has become the dominant one, chasing my flasher. Initially I thought it wasn't that big of a deal since the flasher is faster and is eating, not hiding at all etc. However a month and a half ago the flasher developed Popeye, was lethargic etc. I thought I might lose him. Fortunately after a few days he healed up and completely returned to normal. However two days ago I noticed the flasher started to again develop Popeye. It is only slightly bulged and hasn't gotten noticeably worse, though not better. He's still eating and swimming normallly. Today however I noticed he is missing scales in two places. I'm having a hard time getting a pic but will send one if I do. There's a white patch on his head near the affected eye, and a very small white patch on his dorsal fin. I'm pretty positive it's not ich. Anyway I'm guessing these incidents are related to the Melanurus. My water quality is good, and I have a few other fish that show no signs of infection. My question: what do I do about this? I like the Melanurus a lot and I'm hoping the answer is not getting rid of him, but it seems like he's the most logical culprit unless anyone has any other ideas.

12/08/2017, 06:47 PM	#2
mossimo654 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 78	Update: literally as I'm observing and trying to get a pic I watch the melanurus strike the flasher and I'm pretty sure actually see a scale float away. ***. Is it time to give him away?