Extremely stresswd Damsel

[Chuck S]

This damsel came from someone moving and breaking down their tank...much neglect in the process...and the heater went up so extremely cold water.
Thought it was done yesterday, laying on the bottom upside down. Today swimming around the tank, but lost color and has some white spots. Thinking infection...Started treating today with Melafix. Any thoughts???

 

[John Bolden]

#fishmedic

 

[Sharkbait19]

Looks to be an injury that got infected.
Move to a qt and treat with kanaplex.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This damsel came from someone moving and breaking down their tank...much neglect in the process...and the heater went up so extremely cold water.
Thought it was done yesterday, laying on the bottom upside down. Today swimming around the tank, but lost color and has some white spots. Thinking infection...Started treating today with Melafix. Any thoughts???

This is a fish with evidence of aggression. While it can be injury appears to be bitten at and while not infected, you will want to:
- Identify the culprit
- Keep an eye on area to assure its healing and not worsening.

I would recommend acquiring either Maracyn 2 or seachem Kanaplex to have on hand should it become infected

One way to find the culprit as fish are on their best behavior when you are around is to
set your cell phone on video mode for about 40 mins and drop a little food and walk away - YOU MUST walk away as they know youre there. Often the aggressor is a jerk at feeding time.
Review the video and see who it may be

Clown is my suspect

 

[Chuck S]

It is in a tank set up specifically for the rescued fish. I have Melafix and Primafix on hand. They have worked well for me in the past. Haven't heard of kanaplex...

 

[Sharkbait19]

Kanaplex is kanamycin - an antibiotic commonly used for fish.
Most herbal remedies (like melafix) are known to be very ineffective.

 

[MnFish1]

At first when I looked I thought its an injury - since you just transported the fish - that seems likely. It's unclear to me as to whether its infected - especially since its recovered some since yesterday. That said - seems reasonable to treat in a hospital tank - with a broad spectrum antibiotic - like kanaplex or neoplex - since the risk is extremely low. This also removes the chance of 'bullying' - since the fish will be on its own. IME, most of the time it's the damsels doing the bullying rather than the other way around. So - in other words - I agree with what the other 2 have said.

PS - especially about the use of melafix - if you're going to do a treatment for an area that is that large - I would use a regular antibiotic. While some of these products help (may) prevent or improve infections in this case if you treat I would use an antibiotic - without Melafix etc in the water.