Healing open wounds- bichir

[clm08k]

Hey everyone. My ornate bichir had a scratch(maybe a burn from heater, maybe puncture from something sharp in the tank) the first week of December. It has since then opened into a big red sore. He's slowed down a lot, and I can't figure out how to heal it.

Upped my water changes to 50% per week. added aquarium salt. The main tank he was in is a 55gal with a 350 Penguin HOB filter. He's 5" right now and I am planning on upgrading the tank.The wound got worse over the course of the month. Got better for a week, then got really bad this week....really red and open. Got to the point where he wasn't swimming around and just sitting in a corner on the bottom for 3 days.

wound first week it was there December

12/6/16

started to get inflamed and swollen a week later.

wound as of 1/8/17

1/11/17
Moved him to a 10 gal QT tank with triple sulfa. Day 1 of treatment is all ready swimming around and active(almost seems like his normal self). Again he seemed really lethargic for 3 whole days prior.
here is him in the QT: looks like he's lost some color. I think because of the white sand, but he's more active

Any advice on how to heal my fish, what's going on, and/or fix the main tank (55gal) would be appreciated. Should I be feeding him? I have been feeding every other day in his main tank. Fed him once in the QT. Should I stop? Any recommendations on how to heal would be helpful. This fish means a lot to me and I have never healed a sick fish before. Do I need to do anything to the main tank?

Typically water parameters of the 55gal tank are:
ph: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 4 (as of 1/12/17)


his tank before I took out the white rocks and his log. He also likes scraping up against the heater and anything he can squeeze between. Currently redecorating the tank Any advice appreciated.

 

[Charney]

would continue with a full course of the sulfa as directed on its label. I would try to do to a topical swab of the wound with diluted betadine once daily.

I was a little confused on the post. Is he still doing better since the start of meds?

 

[clm08k]

would continue with a full course of the sulfa as directed on its label. I would try to do to a topical swab of the wound with diluted betadine once daily.

I was a little confused on the post. Is he still doing better since the start of meds?

sorry for the confusing post. The wound has started to heal up after doing a full duration of triple sulfa. It's not as swollen or as red. I've had him in QT for about 7 days. However he still has some open skin. I'm almost 99% certain the wound was because of a heater burn.



Should I keep him in the QT with water changes and do another round of triple sulfa?
Keep him in QT with water changes?

For the Betadine swab: How would I apply it? Do I take him out of the water? Also what do I look for when purchasing the betadine?

When should I move him back to the main tank?

 

[kno4te]

Keep in qt till completely helaed over. No need another around of triple sulfa.

Water changes should be happening in ur qt tank and main tank.

Betadine dab the area with a qtip. Wait on the betadine.

Move back once it has normal looking skin and the heater has a gaurd or out of the way.

 

[clm08k]

Keep in qt till completely helaed over. No need another around of triple sulfa.

Water changes should be happening in ur qt tank and main tank.

Betadine dab the area with a qtip. Wait on the betadine.

Move back once it has normal looking skin and the heater has a gaurd or out of the way.

okay. I'll keep him in the QT and wait on the betadine. Thank you!

how often should I be doing water changes?
For the QT, I've been doing 25% every two days.
main tank been doing 50% once a week.
keep this up?

P.S. got the materials to make a heater guard!

 

[kno4te]

That should be good for water changes. Make sure you check the water parameters.

 

[clm08k]

1) wound still looks bad. Finally got a clear picture of it. It might have gotten worse and bigger since last picture(or I didn't get 100% of wound in pic).
View attachment 1226756 View attachment 1226757 View attachment 1226758
(last pic is with the flash on)

2) Today I did a 60% water change. He's a lot more active now, which is a good thing. Most active he's been in 1.5 weeks.....Wondering if I should go to 50% WC a day? I'm also only using a sponge filter in the 10 gal QT. Should I switch to an internal or HOB filter?

3) Charney Where do I buy betadine? am I looking for a liquid or an ointment? Then I buy the swab and put it on?

4) should I do another round of triple sulfa?

 

[clm08k]

the small burn on his back has also opened up as well.

 

[jaws7777]

Two burns seems unlikey though possible.

Aquanero

 

[clm08k]

did the betadine swab on him last night and tonight. Was pretty cooperative. I hope I diluted it enough and didn't hurt him.