Tang in a knife fight?

[bigyankfan]

I came home today and found my Yellow Tang dead. I have had him over a year. When I took him out, I noticed a deep cut about 1/2" on his flank. Not a ragged cut like from a bite but rather a straight, clean cut like it was made with a scalpel or a knife. I did a lockdown and searched all the cells but could not find a shiv anywhere. (BTW I do not have any other tangs so it could not be that). Anyone have this happen before and, if so, what was the cause?

 

[georgelc86]

Hidden Mantis, Crouching Shrimp?

Just a guess.

 

[pecan2phat]

Could be a mantis shrimp in your tank that your not aware of.

 

[JLAudio]

What else is in the tank that you know of?

 

[bigyankfan]

Hermit crabs, coral banded shrimp, pygmy angel, oc. clown, flasher wrasse. How could a fish or invert make such a precise cut? I thought maybe he tried to wedge himself in a crevice and got cut on a rock.

 

[h20 freak]

That is very interesting,don't get me wrong,sorry for the loss.But I have no idea what could do that, the two types of mantis are smashers and spearers

I doubt a smasher as they use blunt force and wouldn't cause a cut

and a spearer spears,was that deep cut like a long slash or deep puncture?A slash shouldn't be the work of a mantis.

 

[grknyer]

Hey Eric sorry for your loss. Do you have any stonies? Maybe he was spooked and in trying to flee he scraped a stony:scratchch.

 

[Killerdrgn]

anything outside or around the tank that could have cut him on the way out of the tank? May have jumped out and slid past a piece of near sharp acrylic, glass, or nearby razor blade..

 

[nanoreefer22]

anything outside or around the tank that could have cut him on the way out of the tank? May have jumped out and slid past a piece of near sharp acrylic, glass, or nearby razor blade..

If it died in the tank....hmmm

Sorry for your loss Maybe it was something sticking out from a rock, i know sometimes there are some pretty sharp critters that grow onto the rock.

 

[Killerdrgn]

If it died in the tank....hmmm

Sorry for your loss Maybe it was something sticking out from a rock, i know sometimes there are some pretty sharp critters that grow onto the rock.

Ohhh whoops i thought it jumped out and he noticed the cut.

 

[bigyankfan]

I do have stonies so it seems that you guys have exonerated his tankmates. Thanks to all who responded. Sniff sniff.