Need some help

[spotfin]

I went down to the fish room this morning before work to check on my rays. I noticed my first female pup had shed her spine during the night. Didn't notice it laying on the bottom, so I figured it was buried in the sand.

While I was feeding tonight I noticed my male has a wound in the area between the two rows of gill slits on his underside. Guess what is sticking out? That's right, the missing spine from the pup. The spine must be at least 1" long, and less than 1/4" is sticking out. It's in deep and faces toward his back end. He must have spooked her during the night and she stuck him.

What should I do? I'm hoping it didn't damage any internal organs. He ate fine tonight and acts normal. Will the spine works its way out on its own? I've got some pics that I will post in the morning, although they are somewhat blurry.

 

[pitbullfish]

good luck i'm interested to know as well because one of my rays has her barb sticking out the opposite way from the way its supposed to grow and worried she might easily stick my other rays.

 

[JD7.62]

The spines are barbed kind of like a fish hook so the chances of it working out seem small. If he "seems" fine I would carefully see if I could remove it, if not clip it off with a pair of finger nail clippers and hopefully his body will attack it and eventually fight it out. I would wait a couple days and see if anything changes for th better on its own though.

That is just crap luck man, Im sorry.

 

[Nic]

my buddy dealt with this.... his was all the way through and he pulled it out... i dont know what to tell you... maybe pm zoodiver for some advice

 

[spotfin]

Thanks. Here is a crappy pic. THe red arrow points to the end of the stinger. There is a small puncture wound just above it.

 

[Miles]

This happened to an MFKer a while back and everyone just said be patient, use salt.. it will work its way out eventually.. and it did.

 

[spotfin]

Ok. I'll give it some time. Bad thing is the exposed end of the stinger points down and forward. When the ray moves forward, contact with the tank bottom puts pressure directly against the stinger.

I do have MS-222 and sutures at work though.

 

[LiuHsi]

good luck man... i hope the best for ur ray

 

[Nic]

i really wish you the best of luck my buddy got lucky and pulled it threw and the ray was fine... some salt mela and pima and it was good... also ate pellets about 10 minutes after... can you tell how far it really is in there if not far maybe pull and wiggle if not really sharp snippers and cut it so it dont push in..

 

[Miles]

Ok. I'll give it some time. Bad thing is the exposed end of the stinger points down and forward. When the ray moves forward, contact with the tank bottom puts pressure directly against the stinger.

I do have MS-222 and sutures at work though.

In that case you might have to remove it..

Not sure what kind of sedatives are good for rays, either..

Rays seem to be amazing healers if conditions are right, wouldn't worry about anything but getting it out and letting them have a stress-free time period.