How to help stumpy the stingray

[johno27]

Although the blood flow may be too low to sustain the tail there still could be enough in the smaller vessels to spread toxins or infection. It really could go either way, it is a lose/lose but I hope she pulls through. If she starts eating for you I would leave the tail alone for sure

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[TriciaT]

I had a flower that had half of her tail damaged, it died off much faster than you would think. Just added a pound of salt per 100 gallons and let it die off. No stress and she fed the whole time. GL

 

[rup_pilot]

Being a medical professional myself, I would remove the tail if I were you. While the tail is decaying, this doesn't mean it has NO blood flow. A significant decrease in blood flow can kill the tail leaving the ray in pain and discomfort. This doesn't mean sepsis cannot occur. The issue is that you have a raging infection next to an open wound. The bacteria and fungi don't have to be introduced, they are already there! By removing the tail, you are doing what's called debridement, which is removing necrotic (dead) tissue to improve healing. You're also removing the infection. The tail, even with its decrease of blood flow, is most likely causing the ray pain and discomfort at the attachment point and possible part of the tail. By removing it, it'll cause the ray pain initially but reducing the length of suffering.
You're right removing the tail can stress the ray out and kill it but I feel that leaving the tail on is more likely to lead to death. The ray is eating after having its tail mangled so I think it should recover fine.


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[yargnits]

Although the blood flow may be too low to sustain the tail there still could be enough in the smaller vessels to spread toxins or infection. It really could go either way, it is a lose/lose but I hope she pulls through. If she starts eating for you I would leave the tail alone for sure

thanks for the info and sugestion

I had a flower that had half of her tail damaged, it died off much faster than you would think. Just added a pound of salt per 100 gallons and let it die off. No stress and she fed the whole time. GL

that great info, thanks

Being a medical professional myself, I would remove the tail if I were you. While the tail is decaying, this doesn't mean it has NO blood flow. A significant decrease in blood flow can kill the tail leaving the ray in pain and discomfort. This doesn't mean sepsis cannot occur. The issue is that you have a raging infection next to an open wound. The bacteria and fungi don't have to be introduced, they are already there! By removing the tail, you are doing what's called debridement, which is removing necrotic (dead) tissue to improve healing. You're also removing the infection. The tail, even with its decrease of blood flow, is most likely causing the ray pain and discomfort at the attachment point and possible part of the tail. By removing it, it'll cause the ray pain initially but reducing the length of suffering.
You're right removing the tail can stress the ray out and kill it but I feel that leaving the tail on is more likely to lead to death. The ray is eating after having its tail mangled so I think it should recover fine.

thats not so great info. she is not eating as she is only days old and obviously wounded. tbh i doubt she will eat at all untill there is significant improvment in the tail but as you know this can take a while but on the other side i am not worried that she wont be eating for a while either.

she is however as active as her siblings and the tail does not seem to be bothering her at all but i can see what you mean regarding limited blood flow.

seems like a loose loose situation but i still think that if i remove the tail she is going to die, especially if she has to be removed from the water to do it but i cant see it being easy to do whist she is still in the water. :s

 

[DIDYSIS]

Personally I would just leave it at this point. Treat the water and keep the best clean water you can. Stress from cutting the tail off and what not just sounds like a bit much. Either way though its an unknown situation.

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[spotfin]

Surely injuries like this happen in the wild. I would continue with the good water quality and see what happens.

 

[yargnits]

here is stumpys progress. not really much change but she seems happy enough. im not intending at this point to amputate the limb as i think the stress would kill her even if she wasn't already poorly.
she was born on the 25th for reference and is a healthy 4.5" disc from front to back (not inc tail)





seems to be happy enough is active for the time being

increased salt levels from 3.5g / liter to 5g / liter after reading a couple of peices and working out what levels i was actually at so we will see if that helps with the fungus and potential further infection of the good tissue.

 

[Hardhead]

Needs to be removed or she is dead for sure

 

[yargnits]

the tail was hanging off last night and with very little encouragement fell off.

as someone said earlier in this thread it fell off much quicker than i had expected it would and had i known for sure it would be such a short time i wouldnt have been so concerned.

here she is minus tail. with no operation or excessive stress. im glad i waited instead of rushing for the knife .




now she just needs time to heal

i hope she is fat enough to keep going or at least starts eating but ill keep updating to let you guys know how she gets on.

she looks kida odd without a tail but at least she will be easy to id

wish stumpy luck !

 

[TriciaT]

Just watch for infection and fungus now. Keep water clean and it should heal up. GL