Marbled Knife hospitalized

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Racersk

Racersk

Piranha
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2010
1,153
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81
Covington
I need some real life assistance here.

I added a marbled knife whom I thought was big enough to hold its own against a larger marbled knife... (Big knife is ~10" long 2" high, the smaller is ~7" and 1/5")

As the title suggests it only lasted one night. He got whooped on pretty good and is healing now. the problem I have is that I JUST got the hospital tank (15 gallon) 2 weeks ago and it hasn't fully cycled yet. It is in there alone, temp is 80-81 and I have a bubbler in there along with lower water to cascade filtered water to create more bubbles to increase DO.

I have been doing 4 gallon water changes once a day and have added StressCoat (to begin with just to dechlorinate the water) and another product recommended by a trusted LFS to treat any ammonia or nitrites that might be present as to not stress my already injured fish. I have also added Melafix to treat any fungus.

Question, I am seeing fuzz on the tip of his tail and on other damaged areas, almost like a scab, but the fuzz is the same growth I see on uneaten scraps of food. Should I be worried about it? or just wait for it to fall off like a scab? Should I try to remove the fuzzed areas?

Would like to know...as I am concerned. He is active kinda, but definitely not in the clear, nor does he eat(not on the priority list atm).
 
Crusing around much better tonight. The fuzz is going away on its own it appears (with meds). He ate half of a small feeder earthworm this evening.

Good news!
 
If you do get a fungal infection.. don't use Pimafix... Melfix and Pimafix can be used together.. but I won't let it anywhere near my airbreathers. I've lost a few bettas and my last aba aba knife to the combo or simply from the pima. Melafix I have never had an issue with standing on itself. Also underdose w/ Mela.. it can easily kill. I always keep my carbon running when useing it. I'de rather treat an extra day or 2.. then kill my fish w/ an OD. GL w/ your guy glad he's eating.
 
It is just Melafix, thanks for the heads up.

I will be doing something a little better for the filter, maybe just use my seasoned Hydor IV I have in another tank...I can add the carbon with the current one.
 
Doing well cruising around and healing up...

Alot of his fins are split from the attack, how long should it take for these to heal? I can keep him in here for a while I think, but I want him to be as close to 100% healed before introducing back into the bigger tank.

Sponge to move this weekend.
 
An Update...

One week later, this little guy is swimming around normally and healing up surprisingly well. The fins are reforming and his tail looks 100% better! No fungus, just a *little* scab at the very tip. I fed him a little (quarantined) feeder and gulp, gone!

I will leave him in this 15 gallon till 100% healed and then he goes back into the 90 where he was at previously (not the same as the other knife that wooped on him till he's bigger...) I think I'm in the clear.
 
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