Triggerfish are prone to wedging themselves in rockwork crevices to evade dangerIn most cases, issues affecting marine fish—diseases, behavioral issues, compatibility concerns, etc.—should be addressed and rectified as quickly as possible, lest small problems transform into much bigger ones. But there are some circumstances in which the best course of action is to take no action at all—or at least take a wait-and-see approach. Here are a few examples: Minor mechanical injuriesGiven excellent water quality, fish can recover from minor injuries with surprising rapidity, sometimes within just a matter of days. Here I’m thinking in terms of mild wounds caused by physical trauma, such as a torn fin, bodily scrape, or single bulging eye (bilateral exophthalmia, in which both eyes bulge, is not typically caused by mechanical trauma and may require active treatment). Common causes of such injuries are netting, aggressive interaction with tankmates, and dashing into the rockwork after being startled or chased. As long as any stressors that may have precipitated the trauma are eliminated (e.g., a bullying tankmate has been removed) and water conditions are optimal, fish with these types of injuries can usually be left in the display tank to recover under close observation. Wedged in the rockwork When frightened or newly introduced to an aquarium, certain fish are apt to wedge themselves into crevices in the rockwork or other tight spots in an effort to evade whatever dangers they perceive might threaten them. Triggers are especially prone to this behavior, but I’ve seen all kinds of fishes do it over the years.
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