Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Sick Bluegill in my pond?

Obviously, the fish was having a hard time. I have known fish in aquariums to run into the glass or decorative rocks and knock them selves silly. Some would recover while most did not. Your fish may have also been sick to some degree and was on it's way out. The bloody tail could be a result of the illness or a wound from a bird or larger fish attack OR an infection caused from the lack of movement and lying on the bottom. Hard to tell really...I would have removed the fish as well. Keep you eye open for more of the same, but I bet it was a one time occurrence.