Injured Fish

[FishRBeautiful]

Not sure if this counts as disease but my Otocinclus has a chunk missing from its nose. Should I put it down or will it heal? I hate to see fish suffer.

[Colu]

Looks like an injury what I would do is quarantine and do a course of maracyn2 to prevent a secondary bacterial infections on the wound and a small amount of aquarium salt 1 table spoon for 5 gallons as long as it's still eating and active I wouldn't put it down @LoveMyPlatys

[FishRBeautiful]

Ok, thank you! Is that concentration of salt safe for catfish? It is still active. 

[MattyM]

On 8/30/2023 at 7:57 AM, LoveMyPlatys said:

Ok, thank you! Is that concentration of salt safe for catfish? It is still active. 

Yes that is a very low concentration of salt, but I would dissolve the salt fist vs just dumping it in, otherwise it all goes to the bottom of the tank and anything down there will get a face full of salt. Just remember that the only way to remove salt is water changes - it will not evaporate out with the water. You can always start with a lower dosage and up as needed.

Having a 10g hospital tank is super handy - I keep one up and running with snails as a bioload just so it's always ready, and I put plant trimmings and such in there too (even tho it's a bare bottom tank - I weigh them down with plant weights or let them float, helps chill out any fish that are in there too). 

[FishRBeautiful]

Great! Thanks! I always dissolve the salt in hot water and add enough cold water to be close to the temperature of my tank before adding it.

I had used salt to cure ich before I got catfish. But at a higher concentration.