Damsel with open sore

[Anonymous]

I have a striped damsel living in a 10 gallon. Keeping him for my father in law until their move is done.

After some time of less than ideal nitrate levels (and by less than ideal I mean lethal levels :lol: ), I finally got the nitrates under control and stable under 20ppm. No ammonia, no trites, stable temp, pH 8.3.


Three days ago he suddenly gets this wound almost on the ridge of his back, just above and back of the gills. It sloughs off some whitish dead tissue and shows red under it. It is staying open and doesn't seem to want to heal.

I could put him in a sterile QT with some ant-biotics, but the stress of being moved and the anti-biotics messing up the bio filter might do more harm than good.

Currently I fed him some vitamin soaked food (he eats very well), increased his feeding to give him more strength, put polyaqua in the water to help his slime coat, and I'm just watching him.


Any input? Will sticking him in a bucket of medicated water do more harm than good?


Thanks,

 

[Charlesr1958]

That wound could be any number of problems, from bacterial to a parasite such a brooklynella. Hopefully this link will help you pin down what it actualy is since treatment methods would of course depend on what it is.

Fish Disease Identification and Treatments

Chuck

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like it might be this:

Uronema Marinum - U. marinum are single-celled, microscopic, ciliated, opportunistic invaders that normally feed on bacteria in the aquatic habitat. They are constantly in an energy acquisition phase (always looking for food). When the fish’s immune system is stressed, U. marinum will attack the fish, invading muscles and internal organs, eating red blood cells and other cells. Uncontrollable or recurrent infestations are typically indicative of underlying problems such as introduction of new fish, overcrowding, and poor water quality. Life cycle. This takes place by simple mitotic division, but there seems to be quite a body of evidence that in marine Aquariums at least, that high organic loads appear to favor the reproduction of the ciliate. The below picture is a necrotic wound caused by this parasite. The parasite can be confused for brooklynella which if treated is not a problem in misidentification since the usual formalin treatment will destroy both types of parasites. But be warned, this parasite is just as deadly and as quick acting as brooklynella and will remain viable for some time even after the fish has died.

or this

Pasteurellosis. This presents as a haemorrhagic septicemia similar to Vibriosis. Should the fish survive this then grayish-white granulomatous lesions form in the spleen, liver and kidneys - a condition known as pseudo tuberculosis. Treatment is with appropriate antibiotics.

I have a varitable fish pharmacy. Several different kinds of anti-biotics, formalin, copper, etc. All of it. Should I do a formalin dip every other day on him? Or should I move him to a sterile tank and treat with anti-biotics?

 

[Charlesr1958]

If it was my fish, I would put it into a quarantine / hospital tankand treat the water with an appropriate antibiotic as well as lacing its food. I would then also perform a formalin dip treatment plan. Even if the open wounds/sores are being caused by a "parasite", the antibiotic treatment will help to prevent/cure any secondary infections.

I would also be concerned for any fish remaining in the tank as they have surely been exposed as well. Something to keep an eye on which if is spread to other fish would require the treatment of all fish. Seeing as how organic loads can be a factor involved, I would review my tank maintenance habits, filtration methods and feeding amounts as well.

I believe in my brooklynella page, I have the formalin treatment spelled out if you need that information as well.

Chuck

 

[Anonymous]

If it was my fish, I would put it into a quarantine / hospital tankand treat the water with an appropriate antibiotic as well as lacing its food. I would then also perform a formalin dip treatment plan. Even if the open wounds/sores are being caused by a "parasite", the antibiotic treatment will help to prevent/cure any secondary infections.

I would also be concerned for any fish remaining in the tank as they have surely been exposed as well. Something to keep an eye on which if is spread to other fish would require the treatment of all fish. Seeing as how organic loads can be a factor involved, I would review my tank maintenance habits, filtration methods and feeding amounts as well.

I believe in my brooklynella page, I have the formalin treatment spelled out if you need that information as well.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck

The Damsel is the only fish in the tank.

As I mentioned, the tank had unusually high nitrate levels for many weeks, despite large water changes. Never any ammonia or nitrite, pH always stable.

The strange thing is that this happened to the fish well after the nitrates stabalized below 20ppm. So when the fish showed the wound, and ever since, the tank has had perfect water quality perameters.


The way it looks, I'm starting to think that it is just a scratch he got from a rock that developed a mild infection. It doesn't seem to be spreading.