Sick Radiata Lionfish

Lionfish Lair · Jul 21, 2016

Had a radiata arrive with a crack and unsheathed 4 dorsal spine with a infection that seems to be coming onto the body and affected the nearby spines.

I'm rolling with some Furan-2 for now and am waiting for the hospital tank to cool. Too bad I can't put Wound Control on it. I swear by the stuff.

Anyway, here's the hot mess.

helen ann · Jul 21, 2016

Awwwww, poor lil' guy!

Hope he gets better soon!
He really pretty though!

Lionfish Lair · Jul 21, 2016

He'll be a beautiful fish if he pulls through and I can get some vitamins in him. He has a beautiful pink coloring all over that you can't really see in the picture. Probably hurts like a son of gun :-/

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

I would pick up some kanamycin aka Kanaplex in the next day or two. Combine that with Furan-2. Kanamycin is more readily absorbable by a fish's skin than nitrofurazone.

P. S. What is "Wound Control"? Is that the same stuff as Bio-bandage?

melypr1985 · Jul 21, 2016

Poor baby! Hope he pulls through for you! Keep us updated.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 21, 2016

That's right! They went out of business. Remember good ole Aquatronics? They made Wound Control. When they were going out, I bought every bottle within a states drive. LOL! It doesn't expire, because it's mercurochrome. I feel like a child again when I see the color.

We used it on seahorses all the time. I have yet to use it on a lionfish for very obvious reasons. LOL!

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

Blast from the past @Lionfish Lair

Humblefish · Jul 21, 2016

And speaking of Aquatronics, some guy on eBay is trying to sell 30+ year old "Marex" capsules: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHLORQUINE-...I-PROTOZOACIDE-COPPER-SUBSTITUTE/172254622905

That was legit CP before Big Brother regulated it. That stuff belongs in a museum, CP only has a 3 year shelf life.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 21, 2016

Do they have expiration dates on them?

radiata · Jul 22, 2016

Lionfish Lair said:
He'll be a beautiful fish if he pulls through and I can get some vitamins in him. He has a beautiful pink coloring all over that you can't really see in the picture. Probably hurts like a son of gun :-/

What's the plan for getting some vitamins into him? Is it eating? If not, Radiatas are "shrimpers" and you might try the following - put a few drops of vitamins (I use liquid baby vitamins) on a freeze dried krill and drag the krill across the bottom of the tank. I use a 1/4" piece of acrylic rod with some fishing line attached on the end. Poke the fishing line into the krill and drag away.

Hope this helps...

Lionfish Lair · Jul 24, 2016

Hello there. I was updating a different thread on this guy, but I should do it here. Later I'll take some pictures, but the infection does not appear worse today.

I got him on frozen foods yesterday, that is HUGE as far as his potential outcome. I use a bunch of different enrichments and use a dehydrator for the shrimp.

Humblefish · Jul 24, 2016

Sounds like Furan has halted the progression of the infection. Keep dosing.

redfishbluefish · Jul 24, 2016

Renee, I look at this damaged fish this way.....It's a Godsent that this injured fish went to you. I know if I would have gotten it, or 99% of all other aquarists, it would be as good as dead. You are knowledgeable in the care and obviously have all the right goodies to put this guy back into the game. Who else has a dehydrator and vitamin loaded mysis? I have no doubt that this little guy will make a full recovery. You got that fish for a very good reason, not because you picked it, because it picked YOU!

Lionfish Lair · Jul 24, 2016

Paul, I think I want to come hug you.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 30, 2016

It's healing. The tissue has filled the hole.

Ignore all the bubbles, that's just how I run my QT tanks when a fish is sick.

Humblefish · Jul 30, 2016

@Lionfish Lair He looks much better, it looks like the wound has closed. Are you still treating with Furan?

Lionfish Lair · Jul 30, 2016

No, I did the one round of Furan and then put him back in the QT and am dosing the tank with vitamin C (to support collagen formation in addition to the immunity boost). I'm pouring everything I can into his diet and was really lucky to get him trained in time.

Lionfish Lair · Jul 30, 2016

Oops, I probably should have wiped down the glass, because there's like a film on condensation on there. He's in a hot garage.

He's probably going to be a little "herp derp" as his 5th spine stays back. I turned off the bubbles for the video. Bubbles are beautiful for wound debridement. I love oxygen.