Healthy bichir feeding habits

I would find a separate tank and out him in there for right now. In addition to melafix I would use pimafix (not sure if it'll work together I've heard mixed opinions). Pimafix will prevent the wound from developing any fungus. I would also try and feed something larger than bloodworms maybe not a pellet (unless small and rounded sides) ,but maybe something like small pieces of tilapia. Hopefully you can find something that is big enough that it won't be able to go through the whole and will pass like normal. However that could also cause intestinal blockage which is a bad thing and would be even worse for an injured juvenile that is weak. How long since he's eaten and been able to digest his meal? Depending on how long I would separate him from the tank and put him in another tank with some salt and boosted temp. I would wait to feed him anything else so the wound can try and heal and become stronger. If you feed to early and irritate or reopen the wound it could spell major problems. I think of it as try and go as long as you can without feeding him to let the wound heal, because once the wound is healed or at least strong enough to prevent any good from escaping he will be able to eat and gain nutrients. If you go too long he can starve. If you don't go long enough the would could reopen and you would have to go even longer without feeding him. Something else I would caution is make sure he's not swimming around and just making it worse. If he's doing that then he's only causing more pain to himself. I would also watch and make sure that no air starts to get stuck in there. Keep us posted about the status of your littleguy hopefully he pulls through this.

You mean separate the big endli? That's what I'd go for, netting a fish with a wound like that seems like the risk of causing further damage to the wound is quite high. Pimafox works fine with mela IME its just mainly meant for fungal infections which I've never seen in a poly, have you Dr.?

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Epsom salt may help but its not what you need here, its mainly used to flush the stomach and intestines to clear parasite. I use kosher non iodized salt or the api aquarium salt for freshwater, they usually have that at any bog box store

bichirs are tough creatures, him being still alive is great obviously but the epsom salt may be affecting his stomach making it less desirable to eat. My bichirs have never turned down live blackworms, or any live worm for that matter if you'd like to just get something in his stomach. They can survive a long while without eating so 3 days isn't much don't be too worried.

About the loaches I wouldn't be surprised of that was the culprit, or if the combo of that and hitting the lava rock did it. How big are the loaches? If they aren't at least 5 inch I would put up a divider

If you use the API go by the instructions on the box, male sure if you use the kosher non iodized salt go with a tbsp per 10 gallons, mix it in with a water change and replace the same amount in ratio with the amount of water removed
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NowFuzzySays said:

He's definitely hungry. Couple days ago my bf soaked a small pellet for about an hour and then gave it to the del. He gobbled it right up but it still came out of him again. We just now tried putting some flakes in the tank to see if he could handle those. Haven't seen him eat them but he's definitely gotta be hungry cause he's usually quite the pig so hopefully he can get those down ok.

The loach he ate was only about 1.5 inches so it would make sense. We just started keeping goldfish feeders (1-2") in the tank at all times too so that the bichirs are more likely to go afterthem than anything else in the tank. We've been buying them a dozen at a time, and they last about 4-5 days before they're all eaten and we have to restock, so they seem to like them!

Thanks for the info on the salt, too. We just did a 50% wc for the del and he seemed happy. We will do another water change soon and then get some api or kosher non iodized. His wound still looks to be getting smaller, and he still swims around and hangs out at the bottom of the tank like normal, so he's still kickin!

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I would advise don't feed anything hard like pellets in fear of re-opening the wound. I would feed bloodworms as they aren't hard like pellets and will be very flexible and not hard to swallow. Depending on the way he ate it the spines could possibly be the cause. I would just do normal doses of salt or whatever you've been doing so far. I would also put stress-coat in there. Stress-coat has some aloe vera and will help him get his slime-coat back. I use it with all my water changes along with my water conditioner and I have only had a couple fish sick over about 4-5 years. I would only feed him small flexible things such as brineshrimp, bloodworms, blackworms etc.., Just try and stay away from the feeders and pellets for right now so that the wound isn't more stressed. Good thing he is still alive that shows that he's a fighter and should pull through if the right precautionary steps are taken.

BuffaloPolypteridae said:

You mean separate the big endli? That's what I'd go for, netting a fish with a wound like that seems like the risk of causing further damage to the wound is quite high. Pimafox works fine with mela IME its just mainly meant for fungal infections which I've never seen in a poly, have you Dr.?

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Yes I have had one with a fungal infection and it was cleared pretty fast with pima fix. I was saying use it though so that nothing grows onto the would and causes more stress and internal infection which will be a way more stressful and hard to treat situation. And I was talking about the del being separated because of the potential risk you run with having the del in with the other on substrate. You also run the risk of it eating what the other polys are eating. You will have to feed the others at some point and larger endli (as you probably know lol) will not be full with bloodworms and will need more of a pellet or larger food like silversides, krill etc.., I wouldn't even risk the del eating that because of re-opening the wound.