Help! bichir boo-boo

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I

id10t

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 3, 2005
577
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Edgar, my albino senegal (and our departmental monster), has a boo-boo on his belly. Looks sorta like roadrash, with some nasty healing going on (sorry, used to work in wound care at a hospital in the PT department). I'd not be too worried, but its got some green on it, and from human care experience, green isn't good.

What could have caused this, and what should I do about it? Newest thing in the tank is Edgar, he's been here for a few months with no issues, no sharp rocks, etc. Other fish in the tank are a couple of cory cats, a platy, and some female guppies (Edgar likes to eat the males...leaves females alone), and if whatever treatment I do would affect plants I can take the java fern back home.

edgar-booboo.jpg
 
is he on sand or gravel? could have swallowed a pebble.
 
Gravel.... could it be a stone in there? If it is, is there anything that can be done?

Looks like I'll be staying late late one night to change over to sand if he survives.
 
i went threw the same thing but luckily he regurgitated the stone. sand is what has to be done to prevent this.
 
That looks like a nasty wound, ouch

If you already haven't dont so i would definitely separate in a hospital tank, take some polysporin and gob it on so theres a nice thick layer on the wound. Keep the water very clean, add melafix and pimafix to prevent more infection and some salt too.

Add the above slowly though, you don't want to add it all at once. I'd start with the polysporin though. Good luck
 
yeah looks like a wound and/or infection...whats the other pink spot to the left? is that another infected area? i would follow what street cypher said. if that doesn't improve things, you might need antibiotics.
 
That "other spot" is actually on his gill plates, think it is supposed to be there - or rather, they are symmetrical and have always been there.

What kind of salt should I add and how much? I've got a 10gal tank to put him in...
 
that definately looks infected..i would try salt or some type of melafix or pimafix fast......
 
yup follow street's prescription.

IME
first you have to do is prevent infection, so quarantine right away, and keep water as clean as possible, it would be best if you prepare a 5gall or 10 gall hosp tank, depending on size, if no spare tank available a bucket/ plastic container w/ some sort of filtration would do.

as for the salt 1 tsp for the 5 gall and 2 for the ten (1:5), if you can avoid the salt,
just use the medication stated above.
treat the bichir's wound as you would treat a human wound, try to keep the wound clean and try to prevent infection.
 
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