Tiretrack eel with hole on his side...

[demjor19]

I have had my tiretrack eel for about 3 months. He has had this abscess or open wound for the last 1 month, and he seems to still be eating and growing just fine. His only tankmates are some clownloaches, a Raphel cat, and a pleco and we have never seems any aggression. We have been treating him with melafix for the past 3 weeks, and it doesnt seem to be changing at all. Here are some pics of what I'm talking about. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

 

[voss345]

thats weird he seems to have a divit in his spine right above the wound as well
have you considered quarantining it?

 

[Bderick67]

It may be a fungus or something. I had a red tail shark with the same thing, it just would not heal. I eventually moved to a 10g hospital tank to treat but the shark jumped out. Sorry I can't really help out.

 

[demjor19]

thats weird he seems to have a divit in his spine right above the wound as well
have you considered quarantining it?

I think the divit is just where the tail transitions into the body. Thanks for the reply.

 

[groovitudedude]

Great pictures, spiny eels FTW... Anybody? The worst thing I've seen on my fire is white spots (not ich) from the gravel or w.e.

 

[Jeox]

I was gonna say pleco, but no plec is gonna make holes like that.
They might try to go after the wound though.

 

[demjor19]

I was gonna say pleco, but no plec is gonna make holes like that.
They might try to go after the wound though.

i have been watching over the tank closely and have seen no signs of aggression. i figured melafix would have taken care of this. do any of you have any other treatments i could try.

 

[ShadowBass]

i have been watching over the tank closely and have seen no signs of aggression. i figured melafix would have taken care of this. do any of you have any other treatments i could try.

You could quarantine and try maracyn.

I don't see anything that indicates actual fungus, more like some kind of bacterial infection.

I have never ever had luck with melafix clearing up anything whatsoever, so it's not surprising it didn't do anything. If it's not something good water quality will allow the fishes immune system to fix on its own then melafix usually won't work.

 

[toxicfish]

It could be a heater burn.?

 

[scadarette]

I had to move my Pleco for slime coat wounds like in the pics....Once they get a taste....