Was this guy atacked or is he sick?

[Josh the Happy]

I just returned from from an awesome birthday/4th of July party weekend to find Mr. Grumpy Pants (11-12ish inch common pleco) with what appears to be a tankmate, or decoration inflicted wound.
Just in case it is something way worse would you guys mind looking at this and lending your opinion?

Here is the first good pic i could get:


And here is a closeup from my iPhone, IMHO the iPhone takes really decent fish pictures, you can tell he's not happy that i'm all up in his face taking pictures.


If he is sick i want to treat him, if for some reason he got into a scuffle, i guess he'll be okay, as long as it's not a common occurrence

 

[Warborg]

It looks like a fight to me, what are ALL his tankmates?

 

[jimmygoogots]

yea probably an attack, nice sized pleco though... have something big and aggressive?

 

[Josh the Happy]

Eight Clown Loaches, (you can see one peeking out above him)
two Pictus Cats, and a rainbow shark.
I beleive that if he was attacked, most likely it was one of the
bigger loaches, the two biggest are about six inches.
I may not have left enough weekend feeders, the loaches in
particular are used to being fed at least twice a day, but i have
left them for six days at a time before - with adequate food.

 

[Josh the Happy]

And i'm not sure what bacon rights are, but it sounds like something i'd fight for! I do enjoy me some bacon.

 

[uncwnells]

omg its not an attack, which one of those fish have the teeth to pierce the armored skin of a pleco?!? Use your brain.

 

[Josh the Happy]

OK, if isn't i can deal with that, what do you think it was? Like i stated
if he is sick, in any way i can help treat, i would like to.
Even if they don't have the teeth for it, loaches do carry switchblades.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

either way just put some salt

 

[Warborg]

omg its not an attack, which one of those fish have the teeth to pierce the armored skin of a pleco?!? Use your brain.

Use your brain? I've had more plecos die from this type of attack then you have had plecos

Their armor is added protection but it doesn't make them invincible to other fish.

Edit: bacon rights is a joke

 

[Josh the Happy]

It does not look at bad as it did yesterday, so if it continues to heal; and if he does not get any more wounds of this nature i'm just going to leave him be and let him heal.

Thank you for input and advice