bristlenose males changing after fight

[tropicasarah]

Hi. Im new to the site and need some help from you clever people. I've had bristlenoses in my community tank for over a year now and had no troubles. They are in with various tetras, guppies, bettas, other catfish, mystery snails, mussels and shrimp. They all get along fine. I dont have the tank paramaters as my other fish are all OK (including other bristlenoses).

But... My two largest males had a fight the other day. One suffered some small damage (pix attached- ignore snail in the way grrr, they're too friendly, they follow me) and the other is fine. They are back to hanging around together now, like nothing happened. Both of them have white patches appearing on their heads, starting at the cheek/jaw, just in front of the eyes. Its not external like a fungus, it appears to be discolouration of the actual skin (more pix attached). They are still mating, eating, socialising and swimming fine. Could it be bruising or superficial damage, or maybe a hormone reaction? If it is damage from where they've rubbed toghether will it heal on its own?

 

[bigbird]

to me looks like fight marks and the two fighting for dominace. you should monitor this and keep an eye on this to make sure they get no secondary infection. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Irene0100]

yes I would think fighting - and they will fight again and next time the damage could be worse. they often do it dead of night and you find a bad problem in the morning!!
if you can possibly separate the two then do!
consider adding some melafix to prevent infection to the wounds

 

[tropicasarah]

THANKYOU BOTH,
Melafix will do it? My grandmother is willing to take him but I want to make sure he's ok before I shift him. Do I need to have him in a separate tank to Melafix him, or is is it ok if I melafix the whole tank with him in a divider tank (Same water but no physical access to other fish)? Are there any more natural remedies to prevent infection?

 

[Lornek8]

You can Melafix the whole tank. The active ingredients in Melafix are natural. It, along with its partner - Pimafix, are about the most natural medications around. Just be sure to increase the aeration as any medication can cause oxygen deficiency.

 

[tropicasarah]

Sorry this took so long, thankyou for your quick answers. I have treated the tank, now to keep hunting him down and checking on him. (I have half the tank very busy with driftwood and foxtail/hornswort and he hides toooooooo well.) The other male is now guarding a cave with the girl so I guess they have eggs. Does anyone know if mystery snails will eat my eggs as I keep shooing them away from the entrance, but he doesnt seem to be able to stop them on his own? And will he freak if I move the rock mostly-covering the entrance and take a peek?

 

[bigbird]

DO NOT PEEK...no no...

 

[tropicasarah]

Thankyou. I think the khuli loaches musta eaten the eggs, the males not hovering anymore and the loaches are in and out :*(

 

[tropicasarah]

I took my bettas out to treat the tank, were you aware that melafix can kill them (and gouramis)?

 

[Irene0100]

never heard that one, I treated a gourami with a sore with melafix and it healed.

think you will have to move the loaches if you want breeding!

 

[Lornek8]

I took my bettas out to treat the tank, were you aware that melafix can kill them (and gouramis)?

Never heard that one either. Treated a Betta with it before.

 

[tropicasarah]

Quote from another forum:

"The following fish should not have MELAFIX used at any time for any illness as it causes an interference with the Labyrinth organ and the ability to use it.*

Perch
Combtail
Ctenopia or Ctenopoma
betta
Gourami
Paradisefish
Pencilfish

http://www.jeniera.com/Hideaway/melafix.html

I realize that this article deals mostly with Bettas but if you read closely you will see that it mentions that it states that Melafix affects all fish with Labyrinth organs which are the fish listed above.*

If you have any of the above fish and are treating them with Melafix please do immediate 90% water changes and use carbon to remove all traces of the medication and switch to Bettafix if the fish needs continued medication or discontinue medication or notify us and we will try to come up with a suitable replacement for you to use that will not hurt your fish."

 

[mtwalkert28]

never heard that before, have als treated fighter fish with both products. also treated tanks with gouramis in before as well with no ill effects.

 

[tropicasarah]

I only have three bettas in there so its no big deal. Ill take them out next treatment anyway. Btw, the catfish are fine now, thanks 2 all 4 help.