URGENT: HELP : Possible skin infection !

[nishant_datta]

I noticed today one of my florida gars has developed a skin condition near its caudal penducle. The skin has lost its natural colour and has turned white. Dorsal fin is just rays without skin in between. The affected area has seemingly lost all scales and all you see are criss crossed thread like things with flesh inside.

Pics not very clear. Hope my description is. New tank isn't ready yet and other 3 gars are with this guy. Please help.

 

[nishant_datta]

bump

 

[E_americanus]

what are the tank conditions? water temp, ammonia, etc? looks like something bacterial that may have started or been exacerbated by ammonia or nitrites. i would do a 50% (or 70 if possible) water change, increase temperature to 82F and add 1 tbsp of salt for every 20g of water in the tank.

if possible also increase aeration in the tank with a bubbler or two (or run a powerhead midwater, although the bubbler will make things less difficult for the gar to swim).

how long has it been like this, just today? if so it may be a heater burn or something may have attacked the fish...hard to say with the pics, so please try taking clearer ones if you can. a wound/damage like this generally doesn't start from an infection and look like this just overnight.

keep us posted and good luck--
--solomon

 

[xander]

what solomon said. plus, any plecos for tankmates?

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

can u try to get a better pic??

 

[xander]

can u try to get a better pic??

i think if he could he would have already

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

just figured id ask man

 

[nishant_datta]

what solomon said. plus, any plecos for tankmates?

Think I found the culprit. Could've been the common pleco. Its almost 6 inches. That explains the Gar developing an overnight condition. Keeping my fingers crossed. I just pray that its not an infection cause there's no spare tank right now nad there are other gars in with this guy. Thanks all for advice. After last night (after removing the pleco) the fish's condition has not deteriorated.

 

[BigDaddyMagnum]

yea plecos have wicked mouths man and gars are perfect targets.....

 

[xander]

keep the temp up, water clean and add salt. what other tankmates are in there?