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I have a very robust 2 inch albino Bristlenose catfish.

Up until yesterday, I had him in a 10 gallon community tank, where he pretty much just ate and, er, defecated. A lot.

I came home last night to find my ancient zebra danio (like I'VE had it for six years, so heaven only knows how old it was), near death at the bottom of the tank. It's tail was almost completely gone, and the back 1/3 of it's body was white, as if it had been rasped on.

I put the poor thing out of it's misery (freezer), but I'm questioning what on earth happened. I know it wasn't swimming great anymore, and maybe it's swimbladder finally gave out, but the only fish I can come up with as having the ability to do that sort of damage was the Bristlenose (who has been banished to a tank with my S. Eupterus and a Botia Kubotai).

The other danios are fine, but I have a betta who likes to skulk around on the bottom and I'm afraid the bristlenose will mistake it for a wounded fish, if that is what happened to the danio.

Anyone have a similar experience with one of these?

There's absolutely no way a bristlenose could catch a healthy zebra danio*. Sounds to me like the danio was on it's way out anyway (6+ years is very old for a zebra danio), and the bristlenose was trying to take advantage of a free meal (they will scavenge whatever they can find).

Nothing to worry about. I would put the bristlenose back in the tank.

*or a Betta.

My BN will chase any fish in the tank, for a distance of an inch or so, then he skulks back to his algae wafer. That's about as violent as get gets. Corys wont pass up a sick fish either.
Oh yes, it's all cuteness and frolicking, but get sick just once...

Alright, that's what I thought. Just sucks cuz that is a damn long time to have a fish and it was kind of a horrid way to go I've seen what "Jabba" does to peas and algae wafers...

He'll go back in the tank soon, then he can go back to living under the driftwood and laying in his own poo...which I guess if you're a pleco is about as close to heaven a one gets !

Thanks!