Do I Need A Heater Guard?

[Supraman]

So for a few days now one of the new kenyi I bought has need sitting at the bottom of the tank and not eating. When I first released her into the new tank she swam happily although my oldest kenyi was picking on her. Today I found her at the bottom of the tank and thought she had passed away, but when I went to go catch her she swam and stopped soon after laying back on her side.

Once I had caught her I noticed what looked to be a burn mark? She is what looks like gasping for air but the container I have her in now is aerated. Tell me your thoughts, is this a burn that needs to heal, or a infection I need to treat? No other fish are acting funny just the one.

 

[snazy]

It looks like some sort of ulcer to me.
 
Personally I've never had heater guards and burnt fish either. Maybe I was lucky but I just can't imagine how a healthy fish would just stay on the heater till it burns itself.

 

[This Old Spouse]

It actually happens quite often. Heater guards are inexpensive, so why not get one and be safe?
 
I'd be more concerned about the red gills ... looks like there might be some extra ammonia getting to her. What are your water stats?

 

[Supraman]

0 ammonia
0 nitrate
0 nitrite

I do two water changes a day both at 50% and treat with prime

 

[Nik00117]

Two water changes a day? Do you have some kind of system you use? That's a bit extreme.

 

[snazy]

It actually happens quite often.

Just out of curiousity, but do you say that from experience?
A lot of issues can be confused for a burnt mark. Possibly a similar scenario is when people think their filters are too strong and that's why the fish get stuck to the intakes. I am not saying it can't happen but one can never be sure unless they've seen the fish sitting next to a heater that is on for a long time and then why would the fish do it in the first place and not swim around?
 

I do two water changes a day both at 50% and treat with prime

         
I am presuming you are cycling the tank then? If so, there'll be always trace amounts of ammonia despite the water changes and more sensitive or weaker fish won't make it.

 

[Supraman]

No this tank is cycled already and has been set up and established for well over 2 months now. I am doing wc so frequently because I live out in the country and have no job currently so I just do alot of tank maintenance to keep myself occupied.

Just so we are all looking in the right spot, it's under his fin kinda oval shaped . In the pic it looks almost brown and transparent but that's because of his fin, it's actually red and looks blistered. I read that if it turn white and fuzzy that it has developed a fungus growth and will need to be treated soon, is that true? Also it has not turned white I'm just curious so I know if I need meds

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Besides getting a heater guard (i have a Synodontis nigriventris of my own that burnt their side a couple of years back), that fish has a sucken stomach to me.
 
Did you do a total rescape of the tank when adding this new kenyi?
What dimensions does the tank have?
How many and what type of fish?

 

[Noahsfish]

I don't think changing all of your water every day is necessary at all unless you're tank is terribly overstocked....

 

[Supraman]

This kenyi has not eaten since I bought it, that was stated in the opening post. The tank is a 65 gallon and will be getting upgraded sometime soon. Yes I rescaped my tank when I added in the new fish so new territories could be formed. Also the fish inside are

3x kenyi
1x redtop albino
1x bumble bee
1x jeweled
1x yellow lab

The hurt kenyi is removed from that tank atm and is in a QT

Also as I said before I am aware it's over kill to do the wc that much but i get bored and clean water wouldn't hurt the fish in anyway and is always treated with prime.