My Ripsaw Catfish Has A Very Weird Wound On Him *Help*

[Polypterus_36]

Today I found my beloved ripsaw catfish, Nigel, with a nasty looking mark on his back, and I am not sure what it is. Earlier this week, I saw that he had a scratch on his back, which I thought would heal up in time. I am not sure if this is what a healing wound looks like on a ripsaw, or if the injury got worse.



It is hard to get good photos of him because he is shy.


The tank water is very clean. I do 70-80 percent water changes every week. I do not have a water tester on me at the moment, so I am not sure what the parameters are.
His tankmates are an Indonesian datnoid, albino silver arowana, and a smaller royal pleco. His tankmates are all very healthy.

Nigel is also very healthy. He is eating every day and breathing at a normal rate.
I actually noticed his wound when feeding him right before I took the injury photos.

I am very worried since he is very close to my heart. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
Polypterus_36

vincentwugwg thebiggerthebetter
I know you guys are very experienced with these kinds of fish, so if you can help me, that would be great.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Hard to see much with these photos. At least I don't see redness (inflammation) or whiteness (rot, fungus, etc). Beyond this I cannot tell what this is. By the size and location, looks like it could be a heater burn.

Our oxydoras never had anything like this.

There'd be no harm in netting the fish to gently bring it to the front glass to get good photos, if need be.

 

[Polypterus_36]

Hard to see much with these photos. At least I don't see redness (inflammation) or whiteness (rot, fungus, etc). Beyond this I cannot tell what this is. By the size and location, looks like it could be a heater burn.

Our oxydoras never had anything like this.

There'd be no harm in netting the fish to gently bring it to the front glass to get good photos, if need be.

Thank you! Nigel seems very healthy despite of this. In fact, he came out for a big pellet meal not too long ago.
I will try to get better photos with my next water change.
Do you think this will heal nicely or leave a permanent scar?

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Whenever a fish has a good appetite, things are not bad and it must be on the mend.

IDK about the scar. I personally wouldn't worry about it. I would worry about identifying where the wound had come from and making sure it doesn't happen again.

 

[Polypterus_36]

Whenever a fish has a good appetite, things are not bad and it must be on the mend.

IDK about the scar. I personally wouldn't worry about it. I would worry about identifying where the wound had come from and making sure it doesn't happen again.

Yep. I propped the heater up on a piece of hardscape to keep it away from where he swims.
Hopefully he heals up and gets better soon.

 

[Fishman Dave]

You mention that you have a royal plec.
The mouth of the plec is not similar to the mark on Nigel by any chance?
Royal plec eat wood and when short on wood will test other things.

 

[Polypterus_36]

You mention that you have a royal plec.
The mouth of the plec is not similar to the mark on Nigel by any chance?
Royal plec eat wood and when short on wood will test other things.

I was thinking about it, but could a royal pleco do that much damage? I don't really know. Besides, the aquarium is filled with driftwood and other hardscape material that I see the royal always chewing on, and he doesn't seem to bother any other fish.

 

[Polypterus_36]

UPDATE
His wound is healing up by the looks of it.
Here is a picture of him during a water change:

Thanks for the advice and support!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Looks indeed the exact shape and size of a bottom end of a glass incapsulated tank heater.