Wounds/ sores on flowerhorn

[Elle1844]

Hi, I have my flowerhorn Paul for about 2 months ago, occasionally I do 48-72 hours at work in one go so have to leave him. I installed an automatic feeder for this time. I have noticed recently that when I come back he looks like he is covered in grazes. First time was his side and this time was all over his kok? He shares at 270 litre tank for the time being with clown loach who stay away from him. His is about 3 inches. Parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 40 nitrate. Am about to do at 60% water change but wondering if this is a disease or him bashing himself on something?

 

[sikoko]

Is that the deepest/biggest graze on him?

 

[sikoko]

I would add some salt to the tank and raise the temp. It could be a bullying issue with the flowerhorn bullying the clown loach. Flowerhorns prefer solitary environs. I would add something to prevent infection.

 

[ny.subway]

Could be the heater. Clean water and salt should help.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Looks to me like cuts from charging into objects in the tank. I agree with sikoko that he could be chasing after the clown loach and in that process slamming himself into something in your aquarium. If you don't want to get rid of the loach I would remove anything like big rocks and offer patches of thick plastic plants for your loach to hide in. Some flowerhorns are calm and can have tank mates and others are just bullys who wont tolerate any other living creature in their tank.

 

[Elle1844]

Is that the deepest/biggest graze on him?

Yeah it is. I thought that maybe. I haven’t seen him chase them in a few weeks but he has recently decided that he prefers their food to his own so I wonder if that’s when he is chasing them? I have taken out some rough rocks and just kept a smooth cave incase it’s those rocks

 

[Elle1844]

I would add some salt to the tank and raise the temp. It could be a bullying issue with the flowerhorn bullying the clown loach. Flowerhorns prefer solitary environs. I would add something to prevent infection.

I have ordered some salt so will be able to add tomorrow when it is delivered. The current temp is 30 Celsius can I go higher?

 

[Elle1844]

Looks to me like cuts from charging into objects in the tank. I agree with sikoko that he could be chasing after the clown loach and in that process slamming himself into something in your aquarium. If you don't want to get rid of the loach I would remove anything like big rocks and offer patches of thick plastic plants for your loach to hide in. Some flowerhorns are calm and can have tank mates and others are just bullys who wont tolerate any other living creature in their tank.

I’ll have a look into some plants. I have one in there at the moment along with the caves and to be honest my flowerhorn prefers to hide behind it more than my clown loach.

 

[sikoko]

I would stay there and keep outside stressors to a minimum. Also watch for signs of infection.

 

[sikoko]

Hows he doing?