Beat Up Clown

[Johnny Zhivago]

I woke up this morning to my new baby (3'') clown knife looking seriously beat up, especially on the back half of it's body. I suspect my 6'' Delhezi Bichir tried to eat it only to find that the knife was too big to fit in his mouth

Anyhow, I moved the knife out of the tank with the Del and into a 10 gallon with a 3'' Albino Senegal Bichir and a 3'' Rubbernose Pleco, so hopefully he won't get attacked again.

His fins are tattered and there are lesions and missing scales on his sides. I have already added stress coat and plan on adding more soon. Is there anything else I can do to facilitate recovery?

I posted this in the knife forum because I know that ck's can be sensitive and don't want to be told to add something that would exasperate the wounds or stress the fish.

 

[Johnny Zhivago]

I should add so I don't get flamed, that I don't intend keeping the clown in a 10 gallon for long at all--as soon as it recovers and grows 1-2 inches, it's back to the big tank for it. So looking at a maybe two month stay in the 10er.

 

[benzjamin13]

I'd bump the temperature up and add some Melafix and only use half of the recommended dosage. How's it acting...normal, heavy breathing, laying on it's side?

 

[Johnny Zhivago]

At one point it let itself stick to the filter intake, which seriously worried me. That was this morning and since then it has been swimming fine--not even sitting on the bottom (which it often does anyway.) Breathing seems to be okay--though it does seem skittish. I'm more concerned about disease prevention than anything. I don't think that the injuries themselves are enough to kill the fish.

 

[benzjamin13]

If the wounds don't look too bad, you can just add salt.

 

[Johnny Zhivago]

Awesome thanks! Just one more question, can ck's handle a full dose of salt or should I half dose it?

 

[benzjamin13]

Either/or...a full dose of salt would be fine.