My Poor Peppered Cory

[Maxta]

Iv just been out for a few hours, and came back to a cory on his back on the bottom. Thought he was dead until i seen his gills moving.

So in banged on the desk to see if he'd go upright but he wouldnt, banged some more and he swam around but in a terrible state, as he got off his back shock horror i saw a clump of blood come from him and the scar on his underbody, at first i thought it was a chunk but now it just looks like a bad cut. So he swam off and inside of the rock practically upside down.

Iv now got him out of the tank and put him in a bowl for closer inspection, to keep an eye on him and to give him some peace.

Im not entirely sure whats happened as i was out. My guess is that hes gone up for air in the corner i have the bogwood propped upright, and hes gone right next to it, and as corys do they shoot up and shoot down, and hes hit a sharp bit of the wood. Iv now put the wood flat just incase.

I cant imagine any of his fellow peppers, or albino or panda cory cats doing him harm, theyve always got on well and not once conflicted. The other residents are 5 neon tetras, which i highly doubt would have attacked him. The only other culprits are a clown pleco, which i believe didnt do it, an otto which has been in the tank a month now but never chased anyone, usually sticks to the glass, wood and rocks, and rams....who chase each other alot, and do chase/bump into some of the corys if theyre in the way.

Whats your view? And what should i do. Iv treat the tank with finrot and fungus as its the only stuff i have, and also put some in the injured ones bowl. He cannot fore the life of him swim properly and lies whichever way he lands. Iv just stuck my hand in the bowl and had him in my hand, and lay him down in the centre of the bowl on his front. Now he is still moving his gills normal and isnt swimming around, just resting.

Is there any chance i can save him? I dont want to have to kill him, hes one of the fish iv had longest and love the most. Iv already saved one albino cory cat who i got told was going to die.

Any advice/info would be great

Thanks

 

[-germ-]

Have you got a hospital/spare tank?

 

[Maxta]

No unfortunately not. I went to get one before, but the lack of cash/room ended up me not getting one. Hes in a mixing bowl atm, hes not moving atm just lying there on the bottom so i dont think itd matter where i put him tbh.

 

[-germ-]

Right,
You could really do with a hospital tank for him, you can get a dirt cheap one from most LFS;
You need perfect water conditions, to reduce the risk (if you believe there is one) of osmoregulatory issues.
In the community he may be (as youwill already know) harrassed because of his injury.
Not only that but all the dirt in the community tank will increase the risk of infection.

Anyhow; However you keep him make sure the water and hygeine in the tank/bowl is as good as can be. Increase the temp to the highest level that he (and if in the community his tankmates) will tolerate, keep it well aerated.
I'd use melafix (half dose) and an antibacterial (half dose) to help him along, but he can potentially survive, time and good care of his environment will be the best healer.

You could also consider adding a tiny amount of salt (if cories are salt tolerant) , i personally wouldn't do this unless i had lost all other hope, as again this could affect his osmoregulatory system. But its use is a matter of opinion and choice.

Hope this helps.

 

[Maxta]

Iv put him back in the tank, but hes in the fish hatchery i bought a while back. Hes on his side, iv already flipped him over once, so iv left him as i dont want to keep nudging him and stuff. Think this ones going to die

All the water parameters are fine, however in one area of the tank (mainly where the pleco resides) it does get quite messy, all his poo, bits of cucumber and food gather up, i clean regularly but i cant clean up everyday. Once iv cleaned, within 12 hours its the same.

 

[-germ-]

Reply above^

 

[Maxta]

Thank you

 

[-germ-]

Its all that can be done IMO, sorry i couldn't be more helpful.....

 

[Maxta]

Think hes going to die very soon, his gills arent moving as much as they were before, infact theyre not moving now, but he gasps everynow and then. But i think if hes not already dead now, he will be in 10 minutes.

Such a shame, the peppers are my faves. Thank you for all the advice.

 

[-germ-]

Aerate the water as much as poss, use your hand....

 

[Maxta]

Hea dead

 

[-germ-]

Apologies, that i couldn't be of more help.

Sorry for your loss.