Silver Dollar With Hole In It´s Side

[LynneLipscombe]

About ten days ago I noticed that one of my Silver Dollars had what looked like a large lighter patch on it´s side with a smaller one above it´s eyes.  The smaller one is still there but hasn´t really changed but the larger patch was covered in white fungus a week ago.  We treated the whole tank with Disease Clear and by Thursday about half of the area that was covered with the fungus had dropped off.  The treatment was given again on Friday and this morning and now all the fungus has gone but has left a large hole in the fish´side (see photo).  The fish doesn´t appear particularly unwell and is eating.
I would really appreciate any help as we would hate to lose the fish.

 

[Akasha72]

Hi and welcome. I'm not familiar with that treatment so I can't say if it has worked or not. From your photograph though it looks like an injury of some kind. I would check your tank for any sharp objects first and remove anything that could cause injury. Keep a watch on the fish as this could just as easily have been caused by them resting against the heater and getting burnt. If you see them resting against the heater add a heater guard to stop them from getting burnt.
 
The best advice would be to keep the tank clean with plenty of fresh water changes using temp matched dechlorinated water. If that doesn't help you could look for a product by API called melafix. It's a natural product and is used to heal wounds/torn fins etc with good results.
 
Hope that helps

 

[StevenF]

It look like and Ulcer to me.  An infection can cause tissue damage in the area of the infection.  The dead tissue probably came of with the fungus .  That leaves the hole that you see.  Now if the fish is recovering skin will grow over the ulcer just leaving a scar.  However an unhealed ulcer makes it easy for the fish to get infected again. Subsequent infection could make the ulcer bigger and might kill the fish.  
 
Now the ulcer may have been caused by a fungus, or by something else that then it became a fungal infection.  Regardles about the only thing you can do is to keep a close eye on your water parameters to make sure they stay stable.  Also keep a close eye on the fish.  If things get worse try medicating again and hope for the best.  

 

[LynneLipscombe]

Thank you both for the advice. I think it was probably originally an injury which happened when all four dollars were getting a bit frisky, they really throw themselves around in the tank! Looking at it again today the wound looks clean with the top part appearing to be less raw if that makes sense.
I will keep a look out for Melafix but it can be difficult to find things here in Spain. Hopefully it will make a full recovery.

 

[Akasha72]

you could try ordering melafix from the internet. Amazon tends to be the main supplier that may deliver in spain. In the meantime up your water changes as we often underestimate how good regular water changes are

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The absolute best thing for that fish right now is plenty of good, clean water. Lots of water changes. If you have a QT, that's the route to go. A little salt added to the QT water will help it heal faster, as it will keep any bacteria or fungus at bey while the fish heals.