Betta stung

[Han]

My plesiops betta appears to have been stung by my radiata lionfish. He is lying on his side with his fins erect and breathing slowly. Color is normal. He has what looks like 3 wounds on his side. I found him like this about 30 minutes ago, he is still breathing but not moving. Is there anything i can do to help him? Does he have a chance at surviving?

 

[Scurvy]

@lion king may be able to help here.

 

[Han]

@lion king may be able to help here.

Thank you

 

[Scurvy]

#reefsquad Anyone have Lion Fish experience?

 

[Crabs McJones]

@lion king

 

[redfishbluefish]

Hasn't been on the site in a bit, but another contact is @Lionfish Lair .

 

[motortrendz]

Has it shown any improvements?

 

[Scurvy]

Maybe @HotRocks or @Humblefish have some toxin insights.

 

[Han]

He has righted himself, and is leaning against the back of the tank and tries to swim every once in a while. Seems to be breathing more normally now.

 

[Scurvy]

The toxin must’ve working its way through him. Good to hear.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fish should fair well as long as water quality is good and will also depend on the severity of the sting and the health of the fish before this happened. Add vitamins to water and if eating- food.

 

[lion king]

He has a chance but there's nothing you can do that I know of, as @vetteguy53081 eluded to there are a few factors. Just as with humans each will react differently. Sometimes it can be deadly, but as he has righted himself I would think he'll recover fine. What size tank are they in and how long. The betta wouldn't normally incite a defensive sting from the radiata, unless the radiata is super small and the betta was trying to eat him. The radiata, or lion's for that matter don't attack, stings are usually defensive or accidental. A smaller tank and a new addition could get an accidental sting.

 

[Han]

He has a chance but there's nothing you can do that I know of, as @vetteguy53081 eluded to there are a few factors. Just as with humans each will react differently. Sometimes it can be deadly, but as he has righted himself I would think he'll recover fine. What size tank are they in and how long. The betta wouldn't normally incite a defensive sting from the radiata, unless the radiata is super small and the betta was trying to eat him. The radiata, or lion's for that matter don't attack, stings are usually defensive or accidental. A smaller tank and a new addition could get an accidental sting.

They are in a 73 gallon tank, and have been together since january. The radiata is way too big for the betta to try eating. The lionfish has been aggressive in the past and stung a foxface (i saw it happen) and sometimes charges at my valentini puffer. I know lionfish arent usually aggressive, but this particular radiata has become pretty nasty. I had an antennata a while back and it was the most peaceful fish in the tank, I’m not sure why this radiata is so much different.

 

[lion king]

I will yell you I have seen lions charge individual fish before and thought it was strange, then I saw the particular fish picking on the lion. It's almost as if they remember and hold a grudge. Valentini puffers are notorious nippers and foxfaces can be sly bullies. Certain lions don't like being crowded and there could be some territorial disputes. If you've seen this before I would think it's only a matter of time. Each fish is going to have different temperament, I have some lions that are loners and rather aggressive in nature, while others hang together in the same cave and lay all over each other. I've had some of the same species act completely different from levels of aggressiveness to levels of activity, some perching all the time while others always swimming.