Help! - Algae Blenny with gaping hole in chest!

LeftyReefer · Dec 23, 2020

I came home today to find Benny my algae blenny with a gaping hole in its chest/stomach.
He seems to be acting OK. Swimming normally, still eating and swimming in the water column with the other fish during feeding time. He just has a big hole in his chest now....

No other fish are showing any other problems or symptoms.

Anybody have any idea what might cause this? Or what I should do to treat it?

Are my other fish at risk?

Help!

Rp8 · Dec 23, 2020

@Jay Hemdal , a little help please!

LeftyReefer · Dec 23, 2020

Unfortunately I just saw him poop out of the hole in his belly, so I'm assuming his gut ruptured from a blockage.
He is still acting fine and still scouring the tank for food. Scraping the rockwork for algae like he always does.
What are the chances he can recover from this? Or is he likely to just go downhill from here? Ugh.

Woodneers · Dec 23, 2020

They do get blockages and usually die! This is a forest that I’ve seen! Interested to see what jay says.

LeftyReefer · Dec 23, 2020

He's always preferred frozen meaty foods and shuns most algae type foods like nori or algae wafers. But he grazes rocks all day and keeps them spotless so I assumed he was getting enough algae in his diet.
I'm bummed. He is a great little fish.

Woodneers · Dec 23, 2020

They are my favorite fish to watch! I hope he has a chance at recovery!

40g Nano · Dec 23, 2020

I would give him something that could prevent any possible infection

you also want to make sure that he is getting plenty of vitamins for a faster recovery
I would recommend soaking food in selcon

Jay Hemdal · Dec 24, 2020

LeftyReefer said:
I came home today to find Benny my algae blenny with a gaping hole in its chest/stomach.
He seems to be acting OK. Swimming normally, still eating and swimming in the water column with the other fish during feeding time. He just has a big hole in his chest now....

No other fish are showing any other problems or symptoms.

Anybody have any idea what might cause this? Or what I should do to treat it?

Are my other fish at risk?

Help!

Oh wow. That could be termed a fistula. While it doesn't look infected, I do not see any way to repair that, even surgery wouldn't work because the hole was likely caused by a rupture in the GI tract that would also have to be repaired. Sorry!

Jay

40g Nano · Dec 24, 2020

That isnt good.
You may the slight possibility that the tract heals by its own
Feeding him might mess the healing up.

LeftyReefer · Dec 24, 2020

Jay Hemdal said:
Oh wow. That could be termed a fistula. While it doesn't look infected, I do not see any way to repair that, even surgery wouldn't work because the hole was likely caused by a rupture in the GI tract that would also have to be repaired. Sorry!

Jay

Yeah, that's pretty much the same conclusion I've come too also. Although he still seems to be doing OK, all things considered, I don't see any way for him to recover or heal from this... poor guy.

LeftyReefer · Dec 26, 2020

@Jay Hemdal
Its been about 72 hours and my blennie still seems no worse for wear... He's still acting normal, swimming fine. And still eating.
The hole in his chest is still open though. I have not seen him "void" yet today though....

40g Nano · Dec 26, 2020

The hole looks like it has closed up some more

is his poop still coming out of it?

LeftyReefer · Jan 4, 2021

40g Nano said:
The hole looks like it has closed up some more

is his poop still coming out of it?

We've had some positive developments in the past week. First the hole in his gut started to close, but he still wasn't pooping. He began throwing up what looked like half poop and half undigested food. He did that for a couple days but last night he started pooping normally again! The hole is now closed, but still does not look great.... But all bodily functions have resumed their normal routes and he seems no worse for wear. As far as I can tell, he seems to be recovering.

My miracle fish Benny the Blenny!

Like I said, it does not look great... May be infected? Should I treat him with an antibiotic or something? Feed him some food spiked with GC or Metro? Or leave him be since he already has defied the odds and made it this far...