Rabbitfish accident!!!

[cameronladd]

My rabbitfish made the mistake of taking some food out of my porcupine puffers mouth and the porc wanted it back...needless to say this didn't end well. He is not at all an aggressive fish, just wanted the food back and took the mouth of my rabbitfish with it...He is still eating, it just looks like the most disgusting thing I have ever seen, What are the chances you think he will make it? Will he be ok?

 

[t316]

Looks like just his upper lip. Going against him is not only infection, but another fish mistaking that hanging piece of meat as food. I would get him out of there and into a QT tank where he can be alone and heal.

 

[cameronladd]

I tried catching him to take him out, he was impossible to catch before, now that he is wounded he will never let me near him.

 

[loopy101]

i would try to spoon feed him so to speak take a small turkey baster and suck up some of his favorite food and slowly gain his truest and keep him well fed.
hope everything works out for the best!

 

[hlcroghan]

Originally Posted by loopy101
http:///forum/post/3036858
i would try to spoon feed him so to speak take a small turkey baster and suck up some of his favorite food and slowly gain his truest and keep him well fed.
hope everything works out for the best!
Excellent advice! If you don't have a qt or can't get him into one, start handfeeding him extra food with vitamins separate from the other fish so he can have a better chance of healing. I would add garlic in there. They say it can boost immunity to infection and parasites. Then if you can net him and get him out, all the better.

 

[cameronladd]

He is still eating quite well, not so much the algae anymore though...can't really pick at rocks anymore. This is so sad to see

 

[loopy101]

it is sad to see, but if hes eating good and you take the time to give him a little extra tender love and care his chances of surviving are greatly increased! give it time and be pationt!

 

[sepulatian]

If you do not have a QT cycled then I would get one gong just in case. If that does get infected then he will need treatment, even if that means removing some rock to catch him. Being that he is still eating, rotate Vitachem and Zoecon on his meals to keep his immune system up.

 

[scsinet]

If you can't remove the rabbitfish, perhaps you can remove the puffer...

 

[cranberry]

Is he tooth still there? Or is it just"meat" damage. You're going to have to get greens in him somehow if he can't rasp. Tear up little bits of sheet algae to mix with the other food to baster in? They are hardy fish. If the tooth is there, he has a chance if he doesn't get an infection. If he doesn't have a tooth..... I would think the chances are lower. But ya never know.

 

[fishkid13]

That stinks man. The only advise I have is listen to Sepulation, Cranberry and pretty much everyone else.

 

[roberteb]

I think I read somewhere that fish cant see red light in the dark. So wait until it's completely dark and use a red bulb. Worth a try.

 

[loopy101]

i see alot of people say move him to a qt. but wont that cause him more stress? new surrondings and all??? i guess when i am sick or hurt i would want to be where my home is. and if hes eating good i personally think leave him be where he is and keep him well fed and hope for the best

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by loopy101
http:///forum/post/3037168
i see alot of people say move him to a qt. but wont that cause him more stress? new surrondings and all??? i guess when i am sick or hurt i would want to be where my home is. and if hes eating good i personally think leave him be where he is and keep him well fed and hope for the best
You are right, but if it becomes infected then the fish will need a cycled quarantine tank. Would you want to suffer in a room where everyone is picking at your infected wound or would you like a hospital bed where no one will bother you and you could actually receive medical treatment?

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3037175
You are right, but if it becomes infected then the fish will need a cycled quarantine tank. Would you want to suffer in a room where everyone is picking at your infected wound or would you like a hospital bed where no one will bother you and you could actually receive medical treatment?
Totally agree...but sometimes (in the hospital example), the freaking visitors can annoy the heck out of you

Shouldn't be a problem with the fish here though...

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3037185
Totally agree...but sometimes (in the hospital example), the freaking visitors can annoy the heck out of you

Shouldn't be a problem with the fish here though...

Well that is when you pretend that you are sleeping so that the visitors will go away

 

[loopy101]

very good point! i wasnt thinking that far ahead of the medical treatment part of things!

 

[unleashed]

i had the same thing happen to one yrs ago my foxface lost his lower jaw to my puffer.treat with melafix for a few days to reduce chances of infection.you will have to feed it flaked foods from now on if he can eat those his chances are high..mine lived 3 yrs like this..these are grazing fish so he will have to be flaked at minimum of 3-5 times daily as he will no longer be able to graze. i suggest veggie flakes by omega one......leave him in the DT less stress the better

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3037185
Totally agree...but sometimes (in the hospital example), the freaking visitors can annoy the heck out of you

Shouldn't be a problem with the fish here though...

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3037191
Well that is when you pretend that you are sleeping so that the visitors will go away

It's not the visitors it's the nurses...and if you pretend to be sleeping ...wellll...that's when they come for sure to take your temp

 

[cranberry]

Trust me, I try to wake y'all up as little as possible. An awake patient = a needy patient. I want y'all ASLEEP!! Also, if I'm back the next night and y'all didn't get any sleep the night before.... y'all are grumpy!