Help! Ray injured herself

[Abrar]

So woke up to find .y ray somehow how a wound
On its body eating normally and still burrowing in the sand but keeping that bit as out as possible

Does it look very bad?
Anything that I can do?
Attached the picture for convenience

 

[ichthyogeek]

If we're talking about the large pink slit underneath the disc, it almost looks like something tried to slit the ray there.

I know rays tend to shed their barbs. Have you been removing them from the tank once they've been shed? I also see live rock in the picture. Are there any pointy bits of rock that are sharp? What tankmates are in the tank?

As far as things you can do, removing whatever it was that produced the cut would be helpful. Keeping up on water changes, and monitoring the ray for the disc curling will also be useful. What's the filtration on the tank like? The parameters (nitrates, ammonia, phosphates, etc.)?

 

[Abrar]

If we're talking about the large pink slit underneath the disc, it almost looks like something tried to slit the ray there.

I know rays tend to shed their barbs. Have you been removing them from the tank once they've been shed? I also see live rock in the picture. Are there any pointy bits of rock that are sharp? What tankmates are in the tank?

As far as things you can do, removing whatever it was that produced the cut would be helpful. Keeping up on water changes, and monitoring the ray for the disc curling will also be useful. What's the filtration on the tank like? The parameters (nitrates, ammonia, phosphates, etc.)?

Yes I removed all the barbs when ever I see them
There aren't any pointy rocks in the tank that's why I'm confused what caused the cut
No curling yet just it's obvious that it's in pain as he isn't able to fully burry in the sand
Parameters are all in check

 

[ichthyogeek]

Ok, so what are the parameters? Give us numbers please!
Salinity/Specific Gravity?
Nitrate?
Nitrite?
Ammonia?
Phosphate?

 

[ichthyogeek]

Additionally, what is your filtration system like? What do you have on the tank to filter fish waste, and what do you not have on the tank?

Have you looked at the Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual?

 

[fishguy242]

poss add a little extra iodine to tank,is there tank mates? #reefsquad

 

[TvanB1]

Looks like a pretty clean cut, almost as if it was done by a razor blade.
As asked before, what else is in the tank with it?
Also, how big is the tank?
Treatment with antibiotics may be necessary if the wound becomes infected.

 

[Abrar]

Ok, so what are the parameters? Give us numbers please!
Salinity/Specific Gravity?
Nitrate?
Nitrite?
Ammonia?
Phosphate?

Salinity 1.024
Nitrate 0.20ppm
Nitrite 0.02ppm
Ammonia 0
Phosphate 0.05

 

[Abrar]

Additionally, what is your filtration system like? What do you have on the tank to filter fish waste, and what do you not have on the tank?

Have you looked at the Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual?

I have a sump

With 2 BM A8 skimmers for my 300g
4 Blocks of Marine pure
Seachem Matric matrix and a UV steriliser and Carbon reactor

 

[Abrar]

poss add a little extra iodine to tank,is there tank mates? #reefsquad

Tank mates
Dog have puffer
Stars and stripes puffer
Snowflake eel
Sergeant major damsel

 

[Abrar]

Looks like a pretty clean cut, almost as if it was done by a razor blade.
As asked before, what else is in the tank with it?
Also, how big is the tank?
Treatment with antibiotics may be necessary if the wound becomes infected.

300g display and
380/400g including
Sump

Tank mates
Dog have puffer
Stars and stripes puffer
Snowflake eel
Sergeant major damsel

 

[ichthyogeek]

None of those fish would cause a wound like that. Puffers would take a chunk out of the ray rather than a clean cut. Snowflake eels would also leave a chunk, and a sergeant major would go after the eyes....

Here's a copy of the EHM for download, it might help you with further diagnosis:

(PDF) The Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual: Captive Care of Sharks, Rays and their Relatives Editors

PDF | Sharks and rays are an important attraction for public aquariums where they provide an interesting and invaluable educational tool. Elasmobranchs... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

www.researchgate.net

 

[TvanB1]

A full tank shot may help to find out what caused this laceration.
What kind of powerheads do you have in the tank?

 

[fishguy242]

turn off lights for now to reduce stress

 

[ichthyogeek]

poss add a little extra iodine to tank,is there tank mates? #reefsquad

Why iodine? I've always read it's good for goiter and thyroid issues, but not for cuts? Would iodine in the water column help sterilize the wound?

 

[Abrar]

A full tank shot may help to find out what caused this laceration.
What kind of powerheads do you have in the tank?

Will add a full tank shot soon

The only piece of equipment in the tank is a crossflow Wavemaker

 

[fishguy242]

works with humans,and clownfish wounds

 

[Abrar]

It finally fully burries itself in the sand

 

[TvanB1]

If it becomes infected I wouldn’t add any medication to the tank itself. Instead, move the ray to a quarantine tank and treat as needed. It wouldn’t hurt to keep antibiotics on hand. Im not sure what’s available in your country, but you could use something similar to a Rubbermaid stock tank as a QT. For now monitor the wound and move forward accordingly.

 

[TvanB1]

Also, keeping the water clean will help prevent infection. It also helps that you are running UV. What is the wattage on the UV unit?

Depending on what you currently feed, it wouldn’t hurt to add some extra HUFAs and vitamins to it’s diet.