**Emergency** please help my P. Endli

[Keeper of the Ropes]

Just got out of bed and came and sat on the couch. Almost got the crap scared out of me when a plastic bag 20 feet from the aquariums began moving back and forth... Under it? A fish form, wrapped tightly in animal hair. I think it had to have gotten behind some furniture beyond the reach of my vaccuum. I couldn't even tell what fish it was. Just a bit of the belly was visible... and blood. The cats were nearby I scooped him up and put him in a net, lowering him into the water. I worked my fingers over him the best I could in the net, removing as much of the hair as I could. It's Bizzy, my new baby Endli. There is still hair on the fish I couldn't get off, and the blood was found around his gills. At first only his tail was twitching - the more hair I got off the more he's moving, but it doesn't look good at all. I've got the ability to get the fish by itself in a hospital tank if necessary... but what can I do to help him??

 

[repair]

I wouldn't move him into another tank unless the others start picking at him. ( no sence giving it any type of a PH change)

I would add some salt ( 1 cup for every 30 gal ) and bring the heat to around 78 to 80 deg.

The main thing you have to worry about is a secondary infection.... that is why you add the salt.... salt will help prevent infections while the fish heals and it also helps gill function.

I never use mela fix and I have saved several fish that have jumped out. I have a yellow lab that jumped out and was almost still but I put it back in and in a couple of weeks it was fine. At first I thought it was retarded but it cam out of it so have some faith.

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

First off, I'm jealous of u for all those tanks Second... I'm lucky b/c all the pH in all of my tanks is the same. It comes out of the tap @ 7.0 and doesn't change. Bizzy is only 5'' so I've got two options - he was in a 10g with a 5'' retropinnis that I could move, or I could give him a 20g all to himself. The 10 would be easier, because relocating the fish I have in the 20 would be difficult - she's vicious and has to be kept alone. I'll put him back in the ten. Any other suggestions? Do you think Stresscoat will help get the rest of the hair off??

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

 

[repair]

Stress coat would be fine. The hair will come off as the slime coat get better..... it may take a few days.

My tanks are on a drip system so I do a gravel vac every 6 months or so.... all the fun with a lot less of the work.

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

I meant the carpet vaccuum Couldn't believe (and don't want to believe) that I had THAT MUCH HAIR on the floor... absolutely ridiculous.

 

[repair]

I know you were talking about the carpet. I always get how much time do you spend taking care of all those tanks so I was just beeting you to the puch.