Stingray open wound

indcolts56

indcolts56

New Member
Can anyone help? We have a Blue dotted sting ray who has developed a small circular open wound below his mouth about 4 days ago. It has gotten slightly worse over the four days and doesn't seem to be healing.
Any ideas on how to care for him? What medications would help?
Thanks for any and all help!
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by indcolts56 http:///forum/post/3180880
Can anyone help? We have a Blue dotted sting ray who has developed a small circular open wound below his mouth about 4 days ago. It has gotten slightly worse over the four days and doesn't seem to be healing.
Any ideas on how to care for him? What medications would help?
Thanks for any and all help!
I copied the pic for those who do not have a snapfish account
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I also pm'd Beth for you....I have no clue how long it will take for an answer....
I wish I could help..
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
What and how often are you feeding? What are your water readings?
I would recommend antibiotics at this point, but you really can't use antibiotics in your display tank.
How big is this ray? 75 is way too small for him.
Is he still eating?
What kind of sand (courseness) and how deep is the sandbed?
 
indcolts56

indcolts56

New Member
He eats krill once a day. He is still eating and swimming like usual. Can I get antibotics at my lfs? If so, are you suggesting we move to a smaller tank to administer them?
I can measure him when I get home, I'm guessing about 6 inches. He has grown a lot in the past year... sounds like a bigger tank is in order.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Can you post a picture of him and the whole tank.
I can't say that moving him out would be a good idea, since you don't have a large enough QT that is cycled. It may be that you have to move out your live rock to treat him. I never like treating in tank at all, but not too many choices here.
Also, you didn't mention how long you've had him?
Maracyn Two for SW fish is the antibiotic.
A diet of just krill is really inadequate. This could be your biggest problem and the cause of the current issue. Go to the seafood counter and get at least 3 varieties of seafood--fish, squid, shrimp. You can use a food processor to chop it up into smaller bits of food. Be sure that the food you get is either directly packaged for the marine hobby, or, if you get it from the store, there are no added ingredients--just seafood. He should be eating small amts at least 2-3 times a day.
Get a bird feeding syringe and try to get him to feed off of the syringe while he is up a ways from the sand. Do you notice that he is mostly eating off food that has fallen to the substrate?
To be honest, rays should be kept by advanced hobbyists. Ultimate tank size ideally, 200gal min.
Do you remember the particle size of your sand?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
WOW...I wish you had mentioned food last night....I have a Stingray in my 225G...I feed her raw shrimp, scallops, clams and squid DAILY...she actually eats from my hand. I have had her over a year now. She was 3" when I got her, and she is now over 9"
I agree that your ray is probably malnourished at this time......you may also want to think about some vitamins....
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
While my initial thought was to feed by hand, there are obviously risks involved with doing that, which is why I didn't recommend it. Have you hand fed? If not, now is not the time to start.
If you use the syringe, way above the substrate, not allowing the food to drip out, but coaxing the ray to feed directly out of the syringe, I think that would work well, and keep you safe as well. Min. contamination of the food as well.
Also, get zoecon to add supplements to the diet. This fish needs some Omega3 at this point, I'm sure. The Maracyn for SW fish will also add Vit. B supplements, which is very good, stimulates appetite.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
OOPS.....I wasn't suggesting they hand feed, I was just mentioning that I feed mine that way....sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3181133
OOPS.....I wasn't suggesting they hand feed, I was just mentioning that I feed mine that way....sorry for the misunderstanding.
You have to be careful in this hobby. At least I have learned to do that when speaking to people here on the forums. Its something I have just gotten myself to do--be careful about what I say, considering the various levels of experience and expertise here.
 
roastreef

roastreef

Member
I think this is strictly diet related. It's hard to tell from the pic, but have you googled "goiter" to make sure that's not what it is? I would vary the diet immediately and maybe use mazuri vitamins. If you are able to nurse the ray back to health, please get a larger tank for him/her or find a more suitable home. On a side note, I hand feed both my rays and haven't had any issues.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Here is some info on stingray goiter, however, I don't believe that goiter results in an open wound.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/127010/diseased-fish-pictures#post_2935415
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Beth http:///forum/post/3181321
Here is some info on stingray goiter, however, I don't believe that goiter results in an open wound.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/127010/diseased-fish-pictures#post_2935415
LOL...That was the first thing I looked at last night when I saw this post....
I sure hope this Ray can be helped.
 
roastreef

roastreef

Member
Originally Posted by Beth http:///forum/post/3181321
Here is some info on stingray goiter, however, I don't believe that goiter results in an open wound.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/127010/diseased-fish-pictures#post_2935415
I thought that too when I originally posted. It just crossed my mind because goiter comes from a nutritional deficiency and would be located in the same spot. Just thinking out loud, but I wonder if it was/is goiter if it is protruding and getting rubbed raw? What is the substrate in the tank (nevermind, looked above and it's fine white sand)?
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
I don't think this individual has been back to check to see if help was being offered. Unfortunately, people who come to the forums in crisis, frequently don't stick around long enough to get some help.
Hopefully, this hobbyist will get some help somewhere for the ray.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/3182061
I don't think this individual has been back to check to see if help was being offered. Unfortunately, people who come to the forums in crisis, frequently don't stick around long enough to get some help.
Hopefully, this hobbyist will get some help somewhere for the ray.
I sure hope so.....:(
 
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