freshwaterguy

I put a small pot in two of my tanks, the pots each have a small hole at the bottom, I never thought one of my tigers would be able to get through or try to.

Unfortunately for one of them they did try and failed, this has resulted in a 1mm by 1mm deep hole (like a V shape) in the top of my tiger barb (the boss of the tank) the hole is in front of his dorsal fin but has not damaged the fin itself - this is where he got wedged.

Luckily I am off on holiday from work, and he may have only been stuck in the pots hole for 5 or so minutes but in that time it made quite a mess. I could not free him with my finger so had to carefully smash the pot. I have put him back in the tank and has not yet swum, for the last 30 minutes he is hiding out in top corner and did not take flakes.

I would appreciate answers on

1) do fish feel pain? as never had a wounded fish
2) should I treat tank with tetra general tonic (which says use for abrasions and wounds) or let it try to heal naturally (I do not have a Q tank)
3) what is likelihood of his recovery?

I am already gutted that my error has injured my fish - and hope he can survive.

I am keeping a close eye on him, and am glad he is staying away from other tigers as they might pick at his wound. If that happens I will have to move him to 180 cycling or 240 with GBRs and Cardinals.

Shawnie

I would try to find some vita chem, stress coat, fish protector, or some kind of aloe healing substance like those...if you can put him in a QT tank that would be better...so the others wont pick on him..or even a breeder net hung over the side....but if not, those things above will not hurt the other tank mates..just keep a very close eye on him...

freshwaterguy

Thanks Shawnie, I do have a breeder box I can use if required. I will treat the tank tomorrow and post results.

I just hope he can survive it poor guy.

Shawnie

be keeping my fingers crossed for the lil man!

Jo3olous

ouch, the boss is down time for the schools heirs to the throne to step up! lol or you could QT him and let him heal alone. Sorry to hear, of course the leader would try to show off and squeeze through such a tight hole

davedude77

That's too bad. I feel for you. I hope the little guy gets well. My wishes go out to him. Get well soon.

Lucy

Poor little guy.

I agree with Shawnie's good advice. Be sure to keep the water pristine to prevent infection.

freshwaterguy

UPDATE

1) moved him to GBR 240L tank away from any 'potential' picking from other tiger barbs
2) 20% WC done on GBR tank
3) treated tank with 'Tetra General Tonic' after removing live plants (no carbon filtration anyway)

Good news he CAN swim but is taking it easy, does not look to stressed despite looking like has been in a fight with a shark - **** that hole in the pot!

Bad news green tank water Yuk

Watch this space, Thanks for all your good luck messages, I have passed them onto him :-)

Lucy

Let us know how he's doing.
Don't be hard on yourself. You wouldn't have put it in the tank if you'd have known he was going to do that.

freshwaterguy

I have been watching my tank since adding 'Tetra General Tonic' to treat my injured tiger barb and saw a couple of instances 1 of the 4 GBRs darting up the side of the Juwel corner filter.

Upon looking closer one of cardinal tetras was trying to get down the side of the Juwel box filter via the sand. I have since made that more difficult. And worse still one of the GBRs was trying to follow suit and when I put my hand in the tank the same GBR wanted to come in my hand - now I can never get near them normally - ever.

The GBR's are not happy with the Tetra treatment yet it says nothing on the bottle about do not use with certain fish.

The dosage is 5ml for every 20L so I played it safe and reduced 10% for sand etc and then another removed 5ml from the total. I have not overdosed.

I did a 20% WC as per the instructions also prior to using the treatment.

Is this stuff 'bad' for my GBRs? will they get used to it? on day 2,3,4... assuming they survive next 24 hours (treatment will be in tank for 5 to 7 days before has gone)

I only ever used this same treatment once before for fin rot on 2 of my Zebra Danio's when I cycled my first tank back in Sept 2007 (Zebras now have a new owner)

Thanks

Lucy

I've never heard of Tetra General Tonic.

Like Shawnie said, Vita-chem, stress coat, fish protector are all recommended for injuries by several members here.

Shawnie

ive read a bit on it, and it seems like a generic product for all kinds of fish.....I havent ever had to use meds other than I mentioned so Im not sure what you should do...hopefully someone else will help...I wish your fishies well!!

freshwaterguy

luckily this morning the GBRs have returned to normal behavior & do not appear to be stressed/trying to escape tank like they were yesterday evening. The GBRs also eat this morning, I know they are more sensitive than other fish but fingers crossed will be OK.

The cardinals were stressed by treatment for about 30 minutes.

The injured Tiger Barb (I will name Rocky if he gets through this) is swimming near the filter but swimming around quite a bit and not looking stressed. He is not bothering GBRs or Cardinals and I do not expect they will pick on his wound.

I would have taken a picture of his wound but my digital camera will not take pictures as has a zoom error when turning it on - its broken, seems all went wrong yesterday!

Anyway his wound is quite bad and has taken his skin off on both sides near his dorsal fin for about 2mm on each side of his body and in the center there is a small V shape where he got wedged in the pots hole, its all white and I don't think I can see any bone or blood - poor fella.

Shawnie

im glad everyones trying to cope with this!! really try to get some stress coat as the aloe will help heal him quick..and restore the slime coat to his body...its well worth the money...vita chem and some garlic juice, even if you can get him to eat some small garlic pieces, will boost his strength up as well..go rocky! fight fight fight !

freshwaterguy

Shawnie I have some garlic cloves, would you recommend mincing a clove up and either

1) putting resulting garlic juice in the water? or separate him from main tank and add juice?
2) trying to feed him part of a minced garlic clove

I had not realized benefits of garlic to fish until googled.

Shawnie

I would buy a jar of the fresh stuff at your grocery store..its pretty cheap...then use some of that juice or lil pieces for ALL your fishies but really concentrate on rocky getting some...its great for all the fish tho...if you can get a small piece off the clove for rocky to eat, that would work for now...and yes put 2-3 drops per gallon of water of juice in the tank..goodluck!!

freshwaterguy

Thanks Shawnie & Co. & to Fishlore for having such great helpful members.

freshwaterguy

The newly named 'Rocky' seems to be doing well eating, swimming just a little strange for him being the only Tiger Barb with new temporary tankmates.

No sign as yet of Rocky's wound recovering but fingers crossed will be okay.

Shawnie

im glad hes still working hard at recovering...it takes some time to heal up wounds and fins..the stress coat soothes them and will heal him well...just not over nite

Lucy

The fact that he's not getting worse is a good sign. I agree with Shawnie, give him some time.