Uaru with injury?

[valderi123]

We just got 2 uraus a couple days ago and the smaller of the two (about 7") has a spot on its right side that seems to be getting bigger. When we brought him home the spot was about an inch long and more like a scratch. Now it is getting wider and "chunking" out. We separated him from the other fish, so he isn't being picked on. Seems to be eating well.


Could this just be from shipping and will get better?
Is this some sort of disease and needs to be medicated?
Will it heal on it's own?

At a loss here.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Lupin]

What you can do here is keep the fish in a barebottom hospital tank aerated well with a sponge filter or HOB filter. Add a teaspoon of table salt (no yellow prussiate added) per gallon. Repeat second set after 12 hours and repeat the last set after 24 hours to total 3 teaspoons per gallon. It should be enough to prevent bacteria from latching quickly on the wound. Adding iodine solution to the wound using cotton ball is not a bad idea either.

 

[JK47]

What you can do here is keep the fish in a barebottom hospital tank aerated well with a sponge filter or HOB filter. Add a teaspoon of table salt (no yellow prussiate added) per gallon. Repeat second set after 12 hours and repeat the last set after 24 hours to total 3 teaspoons per gallon. It should be enough to prevent bacteria from latching quickly on the wound. Adding iodine solution to the wound using cotton ball is not a bad idea either.

Lupin nailed it. I would also add that Uaru prefer warmer temps. I would bump up the temp to 84 degrees or so, that should help speed the recovery along. These are great fish, I keep a large pair of Uaru Amphiacanthoides as well. Good taste and good luck. PM me if you ever need any specific info on them.

 

[valderi123]

Thanks guys. The iodine we would use, is it just regular iodine, like you would use on people?

Thanks!

 

[Lupin]

Yes, it's fine.

 

[Aquanero]

Excelent advice, do not waste any time treating that wound. It looks clean in the photo but bacteria and fungus will start growing quickly.

 

[valderi123]

Treatment is underway. How often do we re-iodine? Is it really table salt that we use or aquarium salt?

 

[Aquanero]

Kosher salt or sea salt is fine Iodized or not doesn't matter it's the Yellow Prussiate you don't want in it. You should apply the Iodine to the wound for the initaial treatment, once it starts to heal it should be ok with just the salt in the water. Just watch for sings of infection or the fuzzy apperance of fungus if you see any of that reaply.

 

[valderi123]

So it doesn't look like the salt and iodine are working. The wound is getting worse. The spot is bigger, the lateral lines are opening and a small spot on the left side by the tail. What do we try now? Should we try some tetracycline?

 

[Aquanero]

Yes, at this point I would go to the antibiotic. You could also try inconjuction with using the antibiotic pour some Peroxide directly over the wound and let it foam for about 30 secs.