Blue Tang ripped lip

[reefrythm]

I woke up this morning to my baby blue Tang looking like he may have a ripped lip. After closer observation it looks like his lip is actually ripped and barely hanging on. Is there anything I can do to help him? Will it heal? I fed the tank twice and he ate both times.

 

[HankstankXXL750 Verified Sponsor]

If you have metroplex you might want to add it to your food as I believe it could help to avoid infection. Don’t know how well something like that will heal, but I have had fish survive some pretty bad injuries. The fact that he is eating is a good sign.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I woke up this morning to my baby blue Tang looking like he may have a ripped lip. After closer observation it looks like his lip is actually ripped and barely hanging on. Is there anything I can do to help him? Will it heal? I fed the tank twice and he ate both times.

Pics extremely dark to see clearly but metroplex will not do much- you can use either Maracyn 2 for 5 days in quarantine or seachem neoplex and administered in a quarantine setting with added aeration via air stone
As for cause, was fish in squabble with other tank mate or how do other fish look?

 

[reefrythm]

Pics extremely dark to see clearly but metroplex will not do much- you can use either Maracyn 2 for 5 days in quarantine or seachem neoplex and administered in a quarantine setting with added aeration via air stone
As for cause, was fish in squabble with other tank mate or how do other fish look?

Other fish are very small clown fish. I'll try to get some better pictures

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Other fish are very small clown fish. I'll try to get some better pictures

Metroplex is not effective against aerobic bacteria. If it is just an injury, with no secondary bacterial infection, it just needs time to heal. If the damage isn’t too severe it will get better on its own. If bacteria infects the wound then moving it to a treatment tank and dosing with a good gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex would be called for.
Jay

 

[rhizotron]

I wonder if there's any chance of that healing back together. It's probably difficult to find a fish surgeon in most towns. Could a very careful DIY fix with cyanoacrylate remedy this?