injured fish

Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
Came home today and found 4 fish gone and 1 fish appears to have a injury buy its gill, is ther anything I can treat it with like melafix or furan 2, will one of them work, should I put in hostpital tank or leave in pond,thanks
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
7,046
Reaction score
7,233
Location
Water Valley, Alberta
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
2a
Country
Canada
How bad is the injury, Marsha?
Can you post a picture?
Are there any signs of what it was that attacked your fish?
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
Hi Mitch, just put fish in hospital tank while I waited for a reply, here are a couple of pics
 

Attachments

  • DSC_0047.JPG
    DSC_0047.JPG
    45.6 KB · Views: 286
  • DSC_0049.JPG
    DSC_0049.JPG
    67 KB · Views: 276
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
I cant figure out what got to it, by the looks of the fish I am thinking a cat, forgive my typing errors I am so upset I am shaking, the biggest fish was only about 4 inches so it is hard to believe a heron did this, fishing line around pond
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
I have a bottle of melafix on hand and also 2 packets of furan 2, just not sure what to do, also have aquarium salt but don't know if that would do any good to put in hospital tank
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
Thanks, in your opinion does it look like a cat did this, the fish is so small I cant see a heron making this kind of slice, and looking at it close it kind of looks like a puncture in it to.The remaining fish were all at the bottom but this little guy/girl has been swimming around since put in tank so he is active.
 

Meyer Jordan

Tadpole
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
7,177
Reaction score
5,674
Location
Pensacola, Florida
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United States
Great Blue Herons are not the only birds that prey on fish. The Green Heron is considerably smaller than its cousin and prey only on small fish such as goldfish. The are about as common as Great Blues just not as well known. If it is a puncture wound it was inflicted by a bird. A cat would have left remnants of the four missing fish.
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
No raccoons and I believe this happened at night,the puncture wound is very small and in the picture you can see a slice behind the eye, but what ever it was I hope the motion sprinkler keeps it away. I went to lowes and picked up an orbit motion sprinkler and hope to get it set up tomorrow.
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
Looking at the cut today and it seems worse than I thought,it is kind of pulled away from the rest of the fishes head. He is active swimming around and seems to go after things in the water that look like food (Pond Water)but does not open its mouth,maybe to soar. I wish I could do more for him.
 
Joined
Sep 3, 2013
Messages
639
Reaction score
299
Location
Long Island, NY
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
Looking at the cut today and it seems worse than I thought,it is kind of pulled away from the rest of the fishes head. He is active swimming around and seems to go after things in the water that look like food (Pond Water)but does not open its mouth,maybe to soar. I wish I could do more for him.

With perfect water parameters Marsha, he might heal up on his own. It's not a disease, nor bacterial yet. I'd watch it closely, then if needed, if you can catch him ... then anesthetize him and treat the wound. Possibly even with Betadyne and a water sealing ointment or Debride on top of Betadyne.
There are many things you can do. I saw a vet use crazy glue to seal a treated wound on a koi. I've used crazy glue on myself, my wife and kids. It's also used in surgery.

Furan is for gram negative or gram positive bacterial infections. If you're talking topical and not injectable, it would have to be covered with another topical. I've used dental paste with a few things as a mix. I have them in my kit and can tell you the ingredients to the mix to cover the antibiotic if needed.

If it get's worse quickly, then you might want to take further action. I've seen wounds heal untreated amazingly well in good water ... Good luck! Someone will be here if you need them... Barry
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
With perfect water parameters Marsha, he might heal up on his own. It's not a disease, nor bacterial yet. I'd watch it closely, then if needed, if you can catch him ... then anesthetize him and treat the wound. Possibly even with Betadyne and a water sealing ointment or Debride on top of Betadyne.
There are many things you can do. I saw a vet use crazy glue to seal a treated wound on a koi. I've used crazy glue on myself, my wife and kids. It's also used in surgery.

Furan is for gram negative or gram positive bacterial infections. If you're talking topical and not injectable, it would have to be covered with another topical. I've used dental paste with a few things as a mix. I have them in my kit and can tell you the ingredients to the mix to cover the antibiotic if needed.

If it get's worse quickly, then you might want to take further action. I've seen wounds heal untreated amazingly well in good water ... Good luck! Someone will be here if you need them... Barry

Thank you! He looks about the same today. I just gave him a few flakes of food and at first he went after them but did not eat them,almost like he didn't want to open his mouth but then he started eating. I am watching him and the water closely.
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
137
Reaction score
51
Location
Delaware
Just an update, the fish that was injured seems to be doing good,he is back in the pond. It was a cat that clawed him. I caught a cat on my trail cam two nights in a row coming to my pond,the motion sprinkler I set up seems to be working. The cat went running both times. Didnt make it to ponds edge.Thanks for everyone's help.!
 
Joined
Sep 3, 2013
Messages
639
Reaction score
299
Location
Long Island, NY
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
7b
Country
United States
Just an update, the fish that was injured seems to be doing good,he is back in the pond. It was a cat that clawed him. I caught a cat on my trail cam two nights in a row coming to my pond,the motion sprinkler I set up seems to be working. The cat went running both times. Didnt make it to ponds edge.Thanks for everyone's help.!

Sounds great! They can heal well in good conditions.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads


Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
30,781
Messages
508,572
Members
13,042
Latest member
lucaryan

Latest Threads

Top