Injured black ghost knife

[fakieshulgin]

so my juvenile oscar (just under 4 inches) swallowed my juvenile black ghost knife (just over 3 inches). I didn't expect my oscar to try swallowing a fish nearly as long as him but I should've taken more precaution considering the ghost knife is so thin. The ghost knife is still alive, but seems to have a swim bladder issue along with a good noticeable chunk missing out of the left side of his face. He can't swim right, usually spinning or just reversing in circles, and for now I've moved him to my 20g hospital tank. Is there any chance of survival for this guy? I'm not too much of an expert on treating scaleless fish, but I really love the little guy and I'm fixated on saving him.

 

[tlindsey]

Welcome aboard

Only thing you can do is separate the BGK and keep the water pristine its a possibility it may have internal injuries and as you stated possible swim bladder damage. Only time will tell but hopes the BGK pulls through .

 

[kno4te]

Keep the water clean hope it gets better. Can keep the water level low so it’s not a lot of pressure on the fish. Can use fake plants and decor to help get t right side up.

 

[fakieshulgin]

thanks for the advice guys, I immediately did a 50% water change to my hospital tank after adding him to it. I'll have to check on him when I get back from work.

 

[squint]

I'd be concerned about a Columnaris infection setting in.

 

[Thyroyalgeek]

I have a problem with mine growing in my tank, he has stopped growing at 5 and a half inches but he is not in a small tank, he is fed high quality bloodworms and has never gotten a disease. Even when our tank practically crashed while we were on vacation, nitrates over 200, and he was the last survivor other than an angelfish and a platy. What is it?

 

[fakieshulgin]

well i got home from work about an hour ago and found he had passed, I'm damn regretful I did this to the poor guy, I should've been more cautious with placing him with my juvenile oscar. I'm going to buy a 5 inch bgk but i feel like if I placed him in the tank he'd face the same fate despite my oscar being an inch shorter, and if not my oscar would quickly outgrow the bgk and just eat him too. I'm considering sectioning off my tank and then introducing the bgk and oscar to eachother when the bgk is at a good size, any opinions on this idea?

 

[Hendre]

I have a problem with mine growing in my tank, he has stopped growing at 5 and a half inches but he is not in a small tank, he is fed high quality bloodworms and has never gotten a disease. Even when our tank practically crashed while we were on vacation, nitrates over 200, and he was the last survivor other than an angelfish and a platy. What is it?

Well depends how big the tank is... Also bloodworm isn't good for growth. It's good fiber and roughage but that's about it, you need protein in their diets. Otherwise they won't really grow.

well i got home from work about an hour ago and found he had passed, I'm damn regretful I did this to the poor guy, I should've been more cautious with placing him with my juvenile oscar. I'm going to buy a 5 inch bgk but i feel like if I placed him in the tank he'd face the same fate despite my oscar being an inch shorter, and if not my oscar would quickly outgrow the bgk and just eat him too. I'm considering sectioning off my tank and then introducing the bgk and oscar to eachother when the bgk is at a good size, any opinions on this idea?

Sorry to hear

Unfortunately I've never heard of a BGK growing at anything close to the pace of an oscar, I'm not sure how easy it would be.

 

[tlindsey]

Sorry for your loss

 

[kno4te]

well i got home from work about an hour ago and found he had passed, I'm damn regretful I did this to the poor guy, I should've been more cautious with placing him with my juvenile oscar. I'm going to buy a 5 inch bgk but i feel like if I placed him in the tank he'd face the same fate despite my oscar being an inch shorter, and if not my oscar would quickly outgrow the bgk and just eat him too. I'm considering sectioning off my tank and then introducing the bgk and oscar to eachother when the bgk is at a good size, any opinions on this idea?

Unfortunately bgk have a slow growth rate and a bit varied too. Any Oscar will outgrow it quick. Better to keep separated for a while.