I added a Blue Hippo -looks like a yellow belly but priced as regular, a cleaner wrasse, and a falco hawkfish. All are eating and seem to be getting along even with the Puple tang pretty well- I think the cleaner is keeping him busy and making him pretty mad wanting to clean him all the time! I have noticed a small wound on the hippo...looks like the foxface might have finned him soon after I put him in. Will it heal ok?
it will probably get worse before it gets better. depending on how bad the stick was. i would watch him closely as it can be fatal sometimes. not to mention the possibility of secondary infections. i would also stock up on meds in case he needs treated.
If the hippo is getting stressed he well most likely break out with ich, which they are ich magnets anyway. You may have to QT him. I would be ready with a plan.
he's eating, swimming freely around the tank, and the others aren't chasing him around. So he shouldn't be too stressed. ?? the wound did look a little puffy yesterday?? I'll keep an eye on it and see how it does. about how long does it take for fish to heal from that sorta thing?? What kind of meds would I use?
i was reffering to meds for secondary infections. an open wound in a fish can be bad since theres no slime coat there to protect them. its an open door for infections. i always keep some general cure, maracyn 1 and 2, and some copper on hand just in case. if i use some then i restock it. maybe i go overboard but who knows. the venom will spread and cause swelling i would expect it to stay for a week or two depending on how bad he got stuck. depending on where it was at it may effect his eating so i would also be prepared to supplement his diet with vitamins as well
Maracyn 2 is the main one for infection as most infections are gram neg. and the saltwater version also has vit B which is absorbed through the skin and helps supplement the fishes diet. Maracyn treats gram positive and should be used at the same time. These should be used in a QT, unless you don't have corals and inverts. Some claim to have used them with the formentioned, but I cannot say to do so. It is something I want to try someday in my QT to see what happens. Also you well need to remove any carbon or such, and UV, if running it, you can run your skimmer. If using copper I would use Copper Safe by Mardel which also makes the other two, and for sure that would have to be in a QT. I would just keep an eye on him for now, as he may heal on his own. Some like to soak some pellet food in Kyolic garlic liquid and feed, there is great debate on if it actually does any good, but can't hurt. Just keep him fed and he may heal on his own.
Just wanted to give you guys an update: the Hippo Tang seems to be doing a lot better and appears to be healing up ok. Everyone looks to being getting along ok and eating.
