Pictus Catfish

[sassahoc]

I need help. I got 3 Pictus Catfish for Petco 4 days ago and I noticed that one of them has exposed bones on one of his barbs. I isolated him to a different tank incase it was infectious. I don't know what would cause this and how to fix it, if I even can. He was in a 75 gallon tank with 2 other Pictus Catfish, 2 Upside down Catfish, 5 Raspboras, A pleco(idk what kind he is about 3 inches big), and all live plants with 2 spider wood deco pieces. Any help would be apricated.

 

[Rocky998]

@Colin_T give this man the salt talk so he can help treat this horrible wound... He needs it big time. I don't know what the salt ratio is per gallons... I think is one heaped teaspoon per five gallons but don't do anything until Colin_T is able to confirm. That looks bad, sorry man. And welcome to the forum!

 

[Colin_T]

It's a blister or abscess. Salt is unlikely to help. I would return the fish and get another one.

 

[Rocky998]

It's a blister or abscess. Salt is unlikely to help. I would return the fish and get another one.

Returning it is a death sentence! Is there anything he can do??? I would hate to return it.

 

[Colin_T]

If it's soft and squishy they could stick a thin needle in it and drain out the fluid, then apply some methylene blue or iodine, wait 30 seconds and put the fish back in the water. Monitor it for fungal or bacterial infections and hope for the best.

 

[Caesar]

You can manually remove the infection. I have an old pair of scissors at work I use to gently run pictus fins through to remove infections like this. Pictus catfish are probably the most frequently injured fish in the hobby because of their fins.

Very clean water, a low stress environment, and good diet will help the fish heal. A dose of Stressguard or another antiseptic product would be helpful too.

 

[Rocky998]

You can manually remove the infection. I have an old pair of scissors at work I use to gently run pictus fins through to remove infections like this. Pictus catfish are probably the most frequently injured fish in the hobby because of their fins.

Very clean water, a low stress environment, and good diet will help the fish heal. A dose of Stressguard or another antiseptic product would be helpful too.

That sounds real painful...

 

[Caesar]

That sounds real painful...

You don't clip anything, it's like wiping something off your hand using the edge of a surface. You gently catch the infection on the between the open blades and it comes off without any resistance.

 

[Rocky998]

You don't clip anything, it's like wiping something off your hand using the edge of a surface. You gently catch the infection on the between the open blades and it comes off without any resistance.

Well you ain't the one with a painful infection being touched by a blade