Y modesta: flank lesions

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:59 pm

Folks,
Big girl Y-modesta has an oval lesion on the flank, about 1.5cm long and raw and a little inflamed (looks almost scabbed) in the middle and rasped-looking on the outer edge. Oddly looks to be about the same size and shape as the Columbian Shark-Cat's mouth. Never happened before though.
Could be a bite. Could be something else. Has not grown since first noticed yesterday. Was not there (i think) the day before.
Anything terribly bad i should be afraid this might be?

Today i see the second largest has a similar mark, less pronounced/regular in shape and somewhat higher on the body. Am monitoring and will try to photograph.

Water very healthy, fish active and well-fed/feeding. No fuzz/fungus on wound.
Doing 25% water-change tomorrow and adding a little extra salt right now.

A

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:43 pm

The other side- apparently they still get along (if it is a bite) but this hiding spot is the source of stress, even with lots of bamboo and other hides.

With scale. Looks pretty nasty.

Tighter shot of wound. Can sort of see that it's raised, the "scabbing" in the middle and the rasping along the edges suggesting it's a bite rather then a bacterial sore/infection.

Side shot of wound. She's otherwise healthy and vigorous, still chasing everyone else around and digging worms. And maybe slightly overweight.

Suggestions?
A

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:49 pm

PS: Shark cat was a gift and is my wife's favourite. Not appropriate for show-100G pure-freshwater system on it's own, i know, even in good current (which it loves). It's getting moved to a client's pond (hopefully) by end of Feb.
A

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:57 pm

looks like a bite to me. I'd move that fish asap.

chefkeith · Post by **chefkeith** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:13 pm

I'd worry about it getting infected. I'd quarantine and treat with antibiotics.

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:11 pm

Does stress of capture/relocation (no Q-tank in place. Current option is 5 gallon tupperware box) outweigh rinks associated with in-situ treatment?
Suggested treatment? Antibiotic suggested (generic name please) and dose?
A

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:17 pm

What's available in Jamaica is a better question?

A good broad spectrum antibiotic for both gram negative and positive bacteria should cover it, but more important is keeping the shark away from them. Once a predator starts on its prey, isn't it likely to keep after them?

Currently, there's no sign of infection?

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:40 am

As of late last night no sign of infection. All will be hiding until after lunchtime, unless it starts to rain. Cat is not in predatory behaviour regarding the loaches- it seems a retaliatory response to the loaches occasional annoying tail nipping.
Cat gives no trouble to any other fish incl. synodontis, smaller modesta, gobies, swardtail etc... many of which are easily small enough to swallow. When found in whiskers these other fish don't even invoke an attack/swallowing response.
No question though- kitty needs a new home.
I've got a fridge-full of antibiotics formerly for the cat and still in date. Can't get fish-specific brand products but can (usually) get the generic, often in aqueous mix/colloid.
A

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:37 am

I'd keep the tank really clean, and if your fish can all tolerate it possibly use melafix (which is tea tree oil) as a bacterial inhibitor.
what size is the tank?

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:41 am

Depending on how full btwn 105 and 75 gal. Right now about 90, but can bring down a bit as necessary.

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:05 am

I'd keep a really good eye on him/her and the kitty.

first sign of apathy, redness/fuzz on the wound, growth in sizeof the injury or going off food, plan to treat with antibiotics.

It actually looks like it's healing and clean, but (as I guess you can tell

I'd be more worried about finding another wound, or getting a bite taken out of the current one.
....
if you want to prepare ahead of time (just in case) I'd need the names of your antibiotic options and the size of the treatment tank to come up with dosages.

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:39 am

On-hand right now:
Metronidazole @ 250mg/5ml
and
Apo-Amoxi @ 125mg/5ml

Both mixed-up and in fridge.
A

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:50 am

Sorry: Q-tank will likely be 5gal black concrete bucket 2/3ds full with foam/bubbler, so about 3 gallons. Nice and dark and quiet. Not sure how i'll be checking progress without windows and smaller volume will mean more temp day/night fluctuation.
Can also use 18gal plastic tupperware box filled to 10gal- same observation problem though.

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:14 am

Forget the metronidazole, it's more for parasites.

Does the apo-amoxi have dosage info on the package? It would be your better choice since I think it's amoxicillin which targets mostly gram positive and some gram negative bacteria.
Apo-Amoxi at BioSpider

From what you've told me I'd say that your Apo-Amoxi is very similar to Fish Mox.
see link for dosing/treatment instructions.

andyroo · Post by **andyroo** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:48 am

Thanks Shari.
Pretty sure it's Amoxicillin or a mix of that and similar.
Didn't get a good look at the wound last night with bad light once she came out and plenty of swimmin' about; vigor was/is high. Wound looks, so far as i could tell, the same. With luck it's healing and if it was getting worse i'd have noticed.
I'm loath to "rock the boat" with capture/quarantine or medicating. I'm even dragging my feet with water change and feeding (plenty of free-range food in the tank/sand) for fear of changing the apparently alright status quo.
Monitoring whenever she's out. My work desk faces the tank.
Local pipe water is Nitrate-high, the tank is very low.
A

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Y modesta: flank lesions

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