Harlequin tusk help!

[Ryhiem]

I am need of some advice with my Tusk. He has an open wound it seems that has gotten worse. The wound has some sort of white material coming out, not slimy or puss like.

He still has his appetite but has become lethargic. Ive started to mix his shrimp with kanaplex but not sure if this is the right approach. Also have neoplex available.
I think it may be a would that became infected.

Water parameters are

saltinity 1.026

temp 79.5

ammonia 0

nitrite 0

nitrate 5-10

phos 0

pH 8

Any advice on treatment or possible diagnosis would be appreciated!

 

[beth]

This looks like aggression. What other fish do you have in the tank, and do you have the means to separate them? Even a tank divider at least temporarily, if you don't a quarantine tank.

 

[Ryhiem]

It's a semi agressive tank. Niger and blue throat trigger. Purple hippo and naso tang. Mag Foxface. 2 clowns. Long nose hawk. File fish. Snowflake eel. And the tusk. He is by far the biggest in there. And haven't seen anyone try to mess with him. He's a very agressive eater so I'm thinking he might have been sliced bowling through everyone, going after some meaty chunks. I think he is on the mend after 2 days of kanaplex. He was more active last night not 100% though. Going to keep with the kanaplex and add a vitamin supp and garlic. He was scratching the wound last night. I think thats a sign if healing?

I don't have a divider but do have a qt. If things don't progress I'm going to try and catch him!

 

[jay0705]

Only aggressive fish in your mix, is possibly, the niger and thats iffy. The purple tang is a possibility too. The eel if well fed shouldn't pose a threat. I have alot of your same fish and none are aggressive

 

[Ryhiem]

Oh and a marine beta. Ya the only time I've seen the Niger be aggressive is the first day I added the blue throat. The eel is well feed, he gets a big meal every 2/3 days and one or two meaty pieces in between the big days. The purple is still a juvenile, so he hasn't developed an attitude yet.
Maybe the Foxface caught him. I've never seen anyone mess with him. He is definitely the alpha of the tank.
So I'm going to get my qt going just in case. Keep my eyes open for aggression that I haven't noticed and make sure the tusks diet and water is A+. Hopefully the wound will start healing up.

 

[jay0705]

Good water quality will be paramount

 

[beth]

I would see if you can have Maracyn Two for saltwater fish on hand in case things do progress badly. That will need to be used in an established quarantine. If you notice additional wounds or this wound opening up, then it is verified that another fish is picking on him. Observe unobtrusively in the meantime as fish aggression can go undetected unless you are paying close unobtrusive attention.

For feeding, try to target feed him while he is on the mend (using a feeding syringe). That may keep him from jumping in with the other fish during feeding time.

Selcon or Zeocon are good supplements, especially for mending. If you use garlic, it will need to be freshly minced for it have any type of beneficial effect.

 

[pegasus]

It's possible it caught a spine on the naso if it swam too close. Just a thought...

 

[beth]

It's possible it caught a spine on the naso if it swam too close. Just a thought...

Totally agree. Aggressive tank=aggressive mishaps. Continued exasperation of wound(s) will be the determining factor.

 

[pegasus]

Totally agree. Aggressive tank=aggressive mishaps. Continued exasperation of wound(s) will be the determining factor.

Since he's not seeing any aggression in tank, and it's a single wound, makes me think it was most likely an accidental injury. Nasos cant retract their spines like Yellows, so a simple feeding frenzy would be all it would take to end up with a gash. Of course... this is pure speculation. The main things are to keep an eye out for any aggression (just in case), and (most of all) get him healed up.

 

[beth]

Lets hope that is it. Perhaps dumping food a different parts of the tank at the same time would lessen the opportunity for a mishap.

 

[pegasus]

Lets hope that is it. Perhaps dumping food a different parts of the tank at the same time would lessen the opportunity for a mishap.

Could help. Good thing my yellow keeps his barbs retracted, or there would be bleeding fish all over my tank! He doesn't hesitate to bump another fish if he can get the morsel he's after...

 

[jay0705]

Since he's not seeing any aggression in tank, and it's a single wound, makes me think it was most likely an accidental injury. Nasos cant retract their spines like Yellows, so a simple feeding frenzy would be all it would take to end up with a gash. Of course... this is pure speculation. The main things are to keep an eye out for any aggression (just in case), and (most of all) get him healed up.

Peg, by retract do u mean inside the fin or folded down against the back?. I ask bc after reading your post I took a look at my naso and she generally has her top spine folded down.

 

[pegasus]

Peg, by retract do u mean inside the fin or folded down against the back?. I ask bc after reading your post I took a look at my naso and she generally has her top spine folded down.

Folded down against each side. The two spines on each side of the cauldal peduncle are retractable. They're used for defense or aggression. The cauldal peduncle is the small spot just before the tail. Unlike the yellow tang, which has one barb on each side, the naso has two on each side.


View from top:

 

[jay0705]

I never saw that on mine lol my yellow has the white cauldal. I've never seen those spikes on my naso
I will have to look tonight.

 

[jay0705]

Sorry for bad pic I just did water change and had water on the glass. But this is a side view

 

[pegasus]

Look for small horizontal "slits" in the orange spots on either side the white streak. They're called surgeonfish because they have these "scalpels".

 

[jay0705]

Lol I know that. I've seen the little white scalpel if u will. Just not the large orange spikes in ur pic. I will look tho

 

[pegasus]

I hope this file loads from my phone. If so, you can easily see the spines on this NT:

content://media/external/file/9716

 

[jay0705]

I can't see the file lol. I will look when I get home, shes big enough I should be able to see something lol