Abdominal wound on firefish

[Texas Reefer]

Just found my purple firefish on the sand breathing heavy. Looks like he's got a gash on his underbelly and his intestines are coming out! And it's getting worse. He keeps dashing back into the rocks every time I get near. I've had him forever, and he hasnt been shy since the first days, I'm so sad. This happened at feeding time just now, I believe, but I didn't see what actually happened.

 

[4FordFamily]

It sounds like a prolapse.. can you get more photos of the abdomen?

Unfortunately I think euthanasia may be your best bet, but I'll wait for other opinions.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @Brew12

 

[Texas Reefer]

 

[melypr1985]

I'm not seeing the intestines or injury in the picture, but I would start with a methyline blue bath and maybe an Acriflavin bath to ward off any infection. I would keep some kanaplex and/or furan 2 on hand in case you need it. You may want to dose those in a QT anyway if it really is his intestines coming out.

You may lose him anyway, but if you want to give it all you got then that's what I would do.

 

[melypr1985]

Just to be sure... it doesnt' look anything like this at all does it?

 

[Humblefish]

Photos of a rectal prolapse below, taken from here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-disease-index-pictorial-guide.285708/

Does this match what you are seeing?

 

[Texas Reefer]

I don't think so, but it's the same color. What are those, worms?

 

[Texas Reefer]

The anus does look a little poofy..., But the intestine seems to be coming out in front of the poofy part.

 

[Texas Reefer]

Oh my gosh! He swam into a rock anemone. RIP. [emoji37]. Circle of life. Just wish I knew what really happened.

 

[Texas Reefer]

Man, that was fast. Healthy and happy one minute, and the next minute he was anemone food. [emoji45]

 

[4FordFamily]

Oh my gosh! He swam into a rock anemone. RIP. [emoji37]. Circle of life. Just wish I knew what really happened.

Whoops! Well, that's one way to feed an anemone...

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Murica]

Every purple fire fish I've had has had the same issue. In my case I suspected dropsy. I just don't get the purple ones anymore and I've been fine

 

[Texas Reefer]

I'd had him about 4 years. Not bad.

 

[melypr1985]

Sorry for the loss