Do fish Bruise?

[vert20]

This is not really a "disease" type question but thought it might fit here. Last week I purchased a juvenile Copper Banded Butterfly, he acclimated well and was eating good in no time. I noticed a large yellow damsel had taken to chasing him around though he never seemed to make contact.

This morning the CBB was doing fine, or so it seemed. This afternoon he began to swim pointing a little "nose up" and seemed weak. I also noticed reddish brown "bruises" near the front of the dorsal and just below the false eye on the tail. A little bit later he was stuck to the overflow basket!

I rescued him from there, and placed him in a holding basket still in the main tank. I attempted to feed him, thinking he was weak an maybe didn't get enough to fill him up last night. He wouldn't eat a bit. He died shortly thereafter and I am about sick because of it. He was a gorgeous specimen and seemed to be doing so well.

The damsel will be gone by weeks end...

Any ideas on those reddish brown bruises? Were they bruises?


thank you!

[BigE]

I'm not sure if fish can bruise but it may have been an injury of some sort. Just remember there is a lot of stress involved for the fish until they're fully acclimated to your tank which could have made the fish weaker and more prone to disease The damsel would notice this and cause him to go after the butterfly.

[Zack]

yeah did you acclimate long enough. Also I would check your salinity this makes fish tired and less active