Infected Wound?

[JohnDyer]

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Tank size: 56 Gallon
pH:7.2
ammonia:6 (I think this is error in test strips, as I've been getting a 6 all week, but fish are all healthy - will be switching to liquid soon)
nitrite:0
nitrate:10
kH:
gH:
tank temp:76 F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Male Dwarf Gourami had a small scratch 2 weeks ago, possible from swimming against a sharp shell I had in the tank. He was swimming around fine for the first week, then suddenly started lying on the bottom. It wasn't breathing hard or struggling, just lying there. After 2 days, he just got up and started swimming again. He was blowing bubbles out of his gills while eating for the first day after getting up. He eats and swims normally now, but the wound has not healed, and appears to be swelling slightly. It also has a raised white ring along the inside edge (visible in photos)
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 10% weekly, 25% monthly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: API Plant Fertilizer (Use weekly dose once a month), Tetra AquaSafe Plus

Tank inhabitants:
2 Tiger Barbs
3 Neon Tetras
1 Cherry Barb
1 Chinese Algae Eater
4 Guppies
1 Japanese Algae Eater Shrimp


Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 2 Guppies (1 Tiger Barb died last night, but it was old and had been looking slightly off for a while)

Exposure to chemicals: None except Fertilizer and Dechlorinator

Digital photo (include if possible): http/s1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii510/XivXav/

Is there anything wrong with the scratch, or is it healing normally? Sorry for poor quality, my camera had a hard time focusing through glass.

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Hi John..i seem to suffering with exactly the same problem with my Male Dwarf Gourami--> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/387623-male-dwarf-gourami/page__p__3257321__fromsearch__1#entry3257321

I have raised the temp ever so slightly in the hope of it healing, but as he is showing no signs of distress what-so-ever i am trying to avoid medicating the whole tank (hospital tank is unavaulable currently).
I sincerely hope you find a solution to this issue, and shall keep a close eye on this thread in the hope you do

Terry.

 

[JohnDyer]

He was fine for the last couple days, and the scratch was even healing up a little.
Now, all of the sudden, he's back on the ground. Last time he just got up, I hope he can manage it again. I'm not sure what I can do, since I have no idea what it could be.

 

[snazy]

I can't help identifying what it is either but it looks like it does need a bit of treatment. If you have no other ideas and don't have a quarantine tank maybe try some salt bath?

 

[afremont]

He was fine for the last couple days, and the scratch was even healing up a little.
Now, all of the sudden, he's back on the ground. Last time he just got up, I hope he can manage it again. I'm not sure what I can do, since I have no idea what it could be.

He's probably getting an infection, the swim bladder is very close to that area I think. Put some salt in the water if you can. An infection would most likely be gram negative, but there is no way to be sure. I'd treat with some kind of antibiotics maybe maracyn 1 and maracyn 2 or something broader like kanamycin. Don't put melafix in the tank. Do you have any kind of antibiotics? Does he still eat?

 

[JohnDyer]

Epson salt, right?
No antibiotics except Melafix, unfortunately.
He's not eating, he's just lying on the bottom. As I said, last time he just got up and started swimming again, after 2 days on the bottom, so I don't think he's beyond saving. For some reason he keeps getting stuck under the decorations. I move them as soon as I notice, but I'm in college and so that's not very often

 

[afremont]

Epson salt, right?
No antibiotics except Melafix, unfortunately.
He's not eating, he's just lying on the bottom. As I said, last time he just got up and started swimming again, after 2 days on the bottom, so I don't think he's beyond saving. For some reason he keeps getting stuck under the decorations. I move them as soon as I notice, but I'm in college and so that's not very often

Just regular aquarium salt (NaCl) Epsom salt will act like a laxative.

 

[JohnDyer]

He's still lying on the bottom, and the wound is full of white fungal threads, despite my efforts to keep the tank clean. I added salt 3 days ago, but it didn't do anything. I do have fungal meds, but don't have quarantine tank set up, and don't want to med the whole thing.
It's been 5 days now, not sure how much longer he can last.

 

[afremont]

He's still lying on the bottom, and the wound is full of white fungal threads, despite my efforts to keep the tank clean. I added salt 3 days ago, but it didn't do anything. I do have fungal meds, but don't have quarantine tank set up, and don't want to med the whole thing.
It's been 5 days now, not sure how much longer he can last.

That's too bad as the fish seems to have a strong will to live. You might have to consider medicating the whole tank anyway; the water is probably loaded with spores looking for a new home. I don't often recommend euthanization, but if you're not going to treat the fish then I feel that there is nothing to be gained in allowing it to be consumed by fungus.