Burrfish spine wound

[pleing1]

One of our striped burrfish looks as though it has a wound on a spine. It looks like some of the tissue has fallen away and is swollen.

I’m pulling him and putting in a QT tank with NFG. Wondering if anyone has seen this? I’d like to start an antibiotic, but not sure what would be best as I don’t know what this is.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Any still pics under white lighting? Can’t open video

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

One of our striped burrfish looks as though it has a wound on a spine. It looks like some of the tissue has fallen away and is swollen.

I’m pulling him and putting in a QT tank with NFG. Wondering if anyone has seen this? I’d like to start an antibiotic, but not sure what would be best as I don’t know what this is.

Do you work for a public aquarium? The background noise sounds like one (grin).
Did it start up spontaneously? Maybe another fish nipped it…
It does seem infected. A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic would be my first choice. NFG should work, but I don’t use it much and don’t have a dose handy.
Jay

 

[pleing1]

Yes it’s a public nature center in FL!
It started showing gradually over a couple weeks on both our burrfish. No other fish had anything and after closer examination it did not look like any parasite so I thought I’d monitor. I had the thought last night that they are getting scratched up on the artificial structure. We recently had the tank redone and modified it to a large artificial reef with lots of swim throughs and nooks and crannies.

I took them out and did an NFG bath and got better photos. I think I might be correct about it just being injuries from scratching on the structure.

Going to start them on 1.5hr 250mg/gal cipro baths for 7 days.

Thoughts?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes it’s a public nature center in FL!
It started showing gradually over a couple weeks on both our burrfish. No other fish had anything and after closer examination it did not look like any parasite so I thought I’d monitor. I had the thought last night that they are getting scratched up on the artificial structure. We recently had the tank redone and modified it to a large artificial reef with lots of swim throughs and nooks and crannies.

I took them out and did an NFG bath and got better photos. I think I might be correct about it just being injuries from scratching on the structure.

Going to start them on 1.5hr 250mg/gal cipro baths for 7 days.

Thoughts?

Shorter Antibiotic baths are not as effective as long term 24 static baths, but I do understand about not being able to do that on exhibit. Be careful pulling these out of the water, try to minimize the amount of air they take in.
Jay

 

[pleing1]

What dosage do you recommend for long term baths? I pulled them out into a quarantine tank and can dose that tanks water

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What dosage do you recommend for long term baths? I pulled them out into a quarantine tank and can dose that tanks water

I’m at work and don’t have my formularies handy. If the products don’t have specific instructions to the contrary, I think both cipro and NFG can be dosed at 50 mg/gallon every other day for three treatments - I like to do partial water changes prior to the second and third treatments. I would confirm these doses though….working from memory is not my strong suit.
Jay

 

[pleing1]

I’m at work and don’t have my formularies handy. If the products don’t have specific instructions to the contrary, I think both cipro and NFG can be dosed at 50 mg/gallon every other day for three treatments - I like to do partial water changes prior to the second and third treatments. I would confirm these doses though….working from memory is not my strong suit.
Jay

Update:

You were correct about the dosing for cipro, good memory! I put them in QT and dosed the tank water. They got their last dose yesterday and tomorrow I'll add in carbon tomorrow to pull out the meds. All signs of infection are gone, and the spine for one of the burrfish has completely healed up and recovered. The burrfish that had a more advanced infection and tissue loss has no more signs of infection either and the spine is about 2/3rds of the way recovered.

I'll hold them in QT for a week to make sure the infection doesn't return. Thanks for the help!