New here and need help ID illness

[TropicalThemeUK]

I have a 5 year old Green Severum in a community tank. After fighting with the Rainbow fish he had a chunk taken out of his right cheek. Lots of water changes and waiting, but 3 months on it still hasn't healed and has slowly expanded.

Today I've returned from a trip to see his left eye now has some white around it. I am concerned that something is spreading and wondered if anyone has any ideas?

I am reluctant to remove him from the 400l tank as my hospital tank is far too small for him to stay in for long and I'm not sure what medication is safe/I should use. I'm in the UK so we're limited with what we can get hold of and I'm starting to get very concerned he's not gonna get better.

Any advice?

 

[gwand]

I would start a salt bath in Situ. If you use search icon on the forum you can get the protocol.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

what kind of rainbow fish do you have that would take on a severum?

 

[TropicalThemeUK]

I would start a salt bath in Situ. If you use search icon on the forum you can get the protocol.

Are you suggesting to add salts to the aquarium or remove him for a salt bath?

 

[TropicalThemeUK]

what kind of rainbow fish do you have that would take on a severum?

Boeseman's rainbowfish. I had one particularly aggressive male. I think he lost the second fight with the Severum as he is no longer with us.

 

[GaryE]

I've never had a rainbow attack a Cichlid, in many years. I would do a large water change, and then go with @gwand 's suggestion. If it clears (and the eye suggests the bacterial infection may have spread into the sinus - not good), you will need a permanent aggressive water change routine - 30-40% no more than a week apart. Those things always return.

American aquarists may suggest antibiotics. I don't know if you can get them over the counter.

 

[gwand]

Are you suggesting to add salts to the aquarium or remove him for a salt bath?

Aquarium Salt: How to Use It Properly for Treating Sick Fish

Should aquarium salt be used in freshwater tanks? After years of testing, we believe salt is one of the best, all-encompassing fish medicines on the market

www.aquariumcoop.com

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Boeseman's rainbowfish. I had one particularly aggressive male. I think he lost the second fight with the Severum as he is no longer with us.

Jeepers I have never heard of that, looks like he picked a fight with the wrong severum

 

[TropicalThemeUK]

I've never had a rainbow attack a Cichlid, in many years. I would do a large water change, and then go with @gwand 's suggestion. If it clears (and the eye suggests the bacterial infection may have spread into the sinus - not good), you will need a permanent aggressive water change routine - 30-40% no more than a week apart. Those things always return.

American aquarists may suggest antibiotics. I don't know if you can get them over the counter.

Is salt ok to use if I have a Pleco and Corydora catfish? I also have 2 shrimp in there ... somewhere!

 

[Essjay]

Yes it's fine at the dose rate needed.

See also post #2 here.

What to do if your fish gets sick

If your fish ever looks sick or unwell, then the following steps might help. Test the Water and Clean the Tank. Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH and write the results down in numbers. Check it for general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH) too if you can, but...

www.fishforums.net

 

[TropicalThemeUK]

Thanks all. I'll grab some fresh salts in the morning and start up my 100l quarantine tank just in case I need to escalate from salts to meds. Any UK members had luck with Myxazin for wounds?

 

[gwand]

Make sure to use Aquarium salt.

 

[Essjay]

Or any plain salt, sodium chloride, which has no anti caking agent; though most of the salt in the supermarket does contain that.

 

[Innesfan]

Or any plain salt, sodium chloride, which has no anti caking agent; though most of the salt in the supermarket does contain that.

Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, available in supermarkets and on line, is free of caking agents. I've been using it for decades.