heater burn or scrape?

[pfoxgrover]

I was doing a water change on my QT and afterward there was a dark spot on my ringtail tang. There was no spot on the other side so I started to worry. Two thinks happened that might have caused this.
#1 while doing the water change part of the tank lid (a 6" X 12" 3/8 inch thick piece of plexiglass) fell into the tank near where the fish hides
#2 After the water change (heater was unplugged during water change) I could not find the fish and when I did he was shoved vertically between the heater and the sponge filter. I thought he was dead for a minute.

So like I said the spot was dark and about the size of an almond. An hour or two later and the skin has flaked off there and now looks like normal fish color. Should I be concerned? Does this look like it could be something completely different? DO I need to treat the fish?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Are you running any medications currently?

 

[pfoxgrover]

No, I was thinking of doing a methylene blue dip. directions say for dip to use 5 tsp for three gallons (50 ppm). no more than 10 seconds. Does that sound like a good idea?

 

[Crabs McJones]

No, I was thinking of doing a methylene blue dip. directions say for dip to use 5 tsp for three gallons (50 ppm). no more than 10 seconds. Does that sound like a good idea?

Being that he is burned I would run an antibacterial to make sure the burn doesnt become infected if it is in fact a burn, which it sounds like it may be. If your heater was on recently some models take a while to cool down.

 

[pfoxgrover]

I don't have any antibiotics on hand. Do you think this is time critical? Also I am worried about killing the sponge filters in the QT tank, this guy eats a lot....
Any preferred antibiotics?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Let's get some more eyes on it just to be safe, I'll tag the #reefsquad

 

[4FordFamily]

I would order antibiotics — kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 being the most readily available choices (to be used together).

For now I would just observe and if you see any redness or worsening of condition in the affected area, remove and treat with antibiotics above.

You’ll want to order them now because if you wait until you need them it’ll be too late, most likely — infections are often fast-acting in fish and antibiotics work more slowly.

 

[pfoxgrover]

I would order antibiotics — kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 being the most readily available choices (to be used together).

For now I would just observe and if you see any redness or worsening of condition in the affected area, remove and treat with antibiotics above.

You’ll want to order them now because if you wait until you need them it’ll be too late, most likely — infections are often fast-acting in fish and antibiotics work more slowly.

To be used together, like buy all three?
What do you mean by "remove and treat with antibiotics above."
He is still in QT, Treat the whole QT tank right?
Will this kill the bio filter?

 

[4FordFamily]

To be used together, like buy all three?
What do you mean by "remove and treat with antibiotics above."
He is still in QT, Treat the whole QT tank right?
Will this kill the bio filter?

Yes all three. Yes treat the whole QT. No, generally not but I’d monitor it.

 

[pfoxgrover]

Ordered antibiotics. Should be here by Monday.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[pfoxgrover]

I knew there was a reason I keep this stuff for 20 years.
DIY QT heater cover.

Fish looks about the same. The damaged area might have shrunk a little.

 

[pfoxgrover]

So Here is a current picture. I cant detect any redness.
I got the 3 antibiotics. Not sure if I should continue to monitor him or added the medicine. The Metroplex and the kanaplex say they will not adversely affect the bio filter but the furan 2 says it "may".
Any thoughts?

 

[pfoxgrover]

Wanted to follow up on this.
The fish made a full recovery and is happy in his new home and getting along fine with 3 other tangs. I didn't need to use the medications but it will be good to have the meds on hand for future issues.
Thanks for all the help and the quick responses!