Lawnmower blenney sick?

[dave&tammy]

we have a 28 gal nanocube..water tested fine, but our lawnmower blenney doesnt look right.... his rear body is whitish and has a distinct reddish/purplish patch on his body. He is breathing quicker than usual too.

other fish in tank-clown, watchman goby, pistol, and cleaner shrimp (one disappeared a couple of days ago (??) all seem fine. Our anemone is also opened up, looking normal.

Mr. Blenny is usually very active and entertaining but just isnt himself..any ideas? anyone have this happen before?

[Still Learning]

What is the shape of the patch? Is the location of the patch on his body, tail fin, or anus? Is he eating?

Some reddish patches are signs of a bacteria infection (usually the roundish or rectangle shaped). It could also be a wound if he is fighting with someone or got injured somewhere in the tank. There is a fungus that causes streaking like veins.

Those are just a few....posting a pic...even a bad phone pic can really help.

[Randy@pollyspets]

I would guess same thing, either bacterial or got in a fight w/ something. Watch the pistol shrimp. Also, depending on the clown, it could get territorial around it's anemone. I know my clown (Ocellaris) bit me today during my water change when I went too close to "her" anemone!

[dave&tammy]

I'm very sad to report that we got home today and he was dead.... we didnt even think of the clown hurting him, but the clown is most definitely attached to that anemone--- and the pistol, hmm.. they both share the bottom of the tank so I wonder? Could the anemone hurt him?

that spot was along the abdomen area... it almost looked like a bruise or pooled blood inside his body. Not sure if he got in a fight b/c every time we would see him he was by himself.. so sad, he was such a cute little entertainer.

should we reconsider getting another one since the tankmates may have led to his demise? We got him primarily to take care of the algae, if not another lawnmower..suggestions?

[Still Learning]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I would go ahead and get another one if you want it. I don't think the tankmates were the issues....more like bacteria. If you saw them beating it up then I would be more worried about getting another one.

Again...sorry you lost him.

[dave&tammy]

Thanks SL.. I hated to see him go, cute lil fella---- if it was in fact bacterial, would it possibly move to our other fish? or would it likely be contained w/the late blenney-- no need to treat the tank or anythign?