Cut on platty

One of my plattys has what looks like a small cut on its side. It looks quite deep and is quite open. It is swimming ok, and still feeding well but I dont know what this is or what I should do about it.

Any ideas? I dont want to have any infection or anything going on in the tank - I have been problem free mostly up to now.

Melafix and pimafix combo wont do any harm - just to be on the safe side.

Dont bother netting and Q'ing it for a cut - the stress will do more harm than good - Id suggest a water change today - then throw in the M&P combo - you wont need to treat the fish as in a full course of a week - I have found with even the worst torn fins (mainly on plecs) that three days is enough

Im sure the platy will be fine - oh and feed ye olde garlic too

On this note - i read that garlic is now being pushed at the ultimate cure for marine ich - i know were not talking about ich here - just a little note of geekiness

thanx rich any info is good info.


dekker

If it's just a clean cut then as above charley - he might just have rubbed himself on an ornament or somesuch.

Just keep an eye on it in case it starts to look a bit dodgy (white/fluffy/ get bigger etc)..

Im not sure what is going on with this litle fish The cut just isnt getting any better and now looks a bit whitish but I am not sure if it is fluffy or not - cant get a really good view of it.

He isnt feeding as wll and seems to spend a lot of time on the bottom of the tank in the corner so obviously isnt as well as before. Do I need to change the meds and if so what to?

personally - without sounding mean - I think its time to call it quits with this fish.

Its now suffering - unable to cope and if it has an open wound - other fish are gonna have a go at it as well.

You could try to be fast and net it and pout it into isolation - mainly for peace n quiet and you can then treat it however you see fit - i wouldnt use salt treatment - it sounds too weak to cope.

So personally id think about finishing is real quick n clean or isolation and treatment - but I have found when a normally mid to upper level fish clings to substrate and doesnt do much - its often a bad sign.

BTW what appears to be small to us could be big to the fish - its all a matter of scale (excuse unintended pun) the fact its deep means all sorts of other issues could be involved - internal injuries/infections of all kinds

sorry to be the vearer of the the doom n gloom news - i hope im wrong