Today I noticed when surveying my 3ft communal tank that my female bristol nose plec (the largest and oldest) has wounds and one of them was bleeding!
There are three or four round patches. I can say that they are all round patches to. One was bleeding. Not profusly but enough for me to go...wow that looks red!
So I carefully removed her to our smaller Aqua Start 320 tank for observation and comfort. She is currently in with two albino corys and some guppys and platys. She doesnt LOOK like she is in pain. She is munching algaee off the glass.
I added some medication (API Melafix) our lfs provided us with, which they used to treat their fish with open wounds. The other fish are just leaving her alone. The water is slightly cloudy but im assuming thats the meds i added.
Is she going to be ok? The wounds are all red now. I dont know whats caused her injury. Could she of burnt herself on the heater? Or is it likely she has been attacked by other fish?
I will add some photos when my cameras charged.
There is no weird behaviour being shown by the other fish. No scratching or itching or spots or any signs of bad bugs.
You can see some of the patches. The others are on the other side. None on her belly. Just the top of her
Re: MY POOR BRISTOL NOSE!!! Burnt by heater or attacked?? [message #9382]
Sat, 29 March 2008 10:26
Malawi Mother Messages: 1305 Registered: February 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ
Senior Member
Wow! that looks terrible and painful. I would not say that was from the heater. Then the wounds would be on her tummy as well if not more.
There are only two things I can think of
Suction from a fish sucking on her or trying to eat her alive
or some sort of disease. I haven't read up on any disease that looks like this however but that doesn't mean anything.
I would keep her in the dark, keep the water pristine, keep adding the melafix everyday and try 1 teaspoon of salt per 5 gal of water. I say 1 Teaspoon because for open wounds like that, a lot of salt is going to sting. So just use the 1 Teaspoon. If it is just battle wounds, they should start to be healing as we are speaking. The main thing here is to not let that water get the slightest bit dirty. This could very easily turn into an infection. I would even consider going out and getting some sulfa and the first sign of infection, start treating the tank. Those are pretty big wounds and would be surprized if they didn't get infected.
Some people don't like to give medication but I think in this situation you may want to consider it. Sulfa wont hurt your biosphere and it works great for infections.
Good luck and let us know how you make out. If you see those things spreding, it's a disease and we will have to figure out what to do then. Could be some sort of parasite.
Please come visit me at www.atozthatsme.com
I am adding some more API Melafix today. The lfs store used this when their bristol noses face got half munched off. So fingers crossed it will ward off any fprm of infection.
She is still munching away on the bottom.
The gentle fish she is with now are leaving her alone. The corys bump into her but she either moves or they jump over her.
Melafix All natural anti-bacterial remedy For fresh and saltwater aquariums. Will not harm the biological filter. Will not color the water. MelaFix uses the anti-bacterial power of Melaleuca (the name for a variety of Tea Tree) for the treatment of bacterial infections in fresh and saltwater fish. The healing properties of Tea Tree extract have been known for centuries, and are now available for treating aquarium fish. MelaFix is so unique, that after more than six years of research and development, it was granted a patent. MelaFix rapidly heals wounds and damaged fins. Tissue regrowth can often be seen within four days of treatment. MelaFix can be used with all fresh- and saltwater fish, reef aquariums containing invertebrates, and with live aquarium plants. MelaFix does not harm the biological filter, color the water or change the PH....geographically challenged...
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