Wound On Nose

[GinChinSing]

Fish In Question:
Pterygoplichthys pardalis, the common pleco

How Long The Fish Has Been In My Care:
Less than a month

Description of Symptoms:
A small, red/bloody wound on nose that looks like a rubbing burn or like the pleco snagged his nose on something. Also have a question about a healed wound. See last paragraph before photos.

Tank Size and Tank Mates:
75 gallon filled to 65 gallons. Tankmates include three turtles (two western painted, one African Helmeted), and an Oscar cichlid of about 5 inches. Turtles are at maximum of 5.5 inches shell length.

Water Parameters:
Not positive as I ran out of testing fluid. More on way and will arrive Monday. Based on previous tests, it should be around the following -

Ammonia: 0-.25 (higher than 0 on day after earthworm feeding day)
Nitrite: 0-0.25 (higher than 0 again after earthworm day)
Nitrate: 5-10
pH: Unknown

Filtration and Water Changes:
Brand new EHEIM Professionel 3e 2078 (canister rated for 185 gallons). 50% water changes every week, cured with Prime.

Diet:
Varied. Includes what's left of ZooMed Aquatic Turtle Pellets, OSI Oscar Pellets, and Shrimp Pellets. Also has access to fruits and veggies that are turtle appropriate as well as earthworms, dubia roaches, waxworms, mealworms, crickets, and related. Offered algae wafers, though I've never seen him eat them (not saying he doesn't, just never seen it). Zucchini is offered at night three times a week. Has access to a small 12 inch piece of driftwood.

Temperature of Water:
Just realized today that my 10 year old 300w heater broke. Not sure how long it was like that. At most a week is my best guess. Water was 69 degrees F. Have only 50w heaters left and three have brought the temperature up to 78.8 degrees F. Goal is 79 degrees F, but I will have to buy a new 300w.

Treatments Used So Far:
None


So, my question is, do I need to treat this wound on his nose? If so, what treatment plan should I use?

Also, I have noticed that the pleco has a small scar near his vent. It feels healed over and was there when I got the fish. Should I be worried about any ill affects from a wound of this sort? It looks like it was pretty deep at one point, though I'm not sure if the pictures show it well.

 

[bigbird]

looks like a possible heater burn or burrowing scratch.
I would treat with the 2 fixes Mela and Pima .
Water changes a little more maybe 2 days a week, as during this period they need great water quality.
It is a nice looking fish. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Irene0100]

I agree try the 'fixes' to prevent infection.
looks like a wound to me, so no idea if turtles bite??

 

[GinChinSing]

One of the turtles snapped the Oscar's fin on accident while trying to catch a sinking shrimp pellet, but that's about it. They mostly just step on the pleco and push the Oscar out of the way. It is possible that it's from the heater. My 10 year old (or so) 300w heater broke sometime this week and I discovered it yesterday. Maybe it had a surge before it died and the pleco was too close?

I can say that he is an awesome pleco. He's a pain to catch, but except for croaking a little while I was taking the photos, he just spread out his rays and didn't move. My previous plecos always thrashed around.

As for water quality, I did discover where all the turtle poo was going. I have ceramic tiles for the bottom to give the turtles a better grip and to help them see sinking foods a little better. I lifted them up to do the tank yesterday and discovered that one of them was hiding a bunch, plus a dead worm. That would explain the .25 ammonia spikes, not that it's too bad. I'll just have to remember to lift the tiles more often. Wouldn't you know it that the tile in question is on the opposite side of the the filter? Always works out that way I guess.

 

[Lornek8]

Doesn't look like heater burn, heater burn is flatter so to speak as it requires the fish to be up against the heater, there is also an area surrounding the wound that shows damage. It looks like bite or a wound of sorts, like a gouge of similar. Often you wounds see on the nose of fish kept in tanks that are too small, but that looks similar to a heater burn as you typically have a transition from damaged to healthy flesh, not a chunk missing.

 

[GinChinSing]

It's starting to heal up all ready. Hardy fish these are.

I found a roughly 420 gallon tank for $1 a gallon that I want. I just need to come up with the money and figure out how to get it home. It doesn't come with a stand, but I figure it's not an immediate need. It's a little over a hundred gallons more than my original plan, but that's good as I have discovered another turtle species I would die to have.

So, my plan is (assuming I get the tank), to move all the turtles to the 420 gallon and keep the Oscar and pleco in the 75 gallon. I will then start searching for the 200 gallon or so that I wanted originally for the turtles. That will ensure the pleco is safe from the turtles even though I've never seen them treat him any different than a moving rock. That will then leave the 20 gallon betta tank available for upgrade to the 75 gallon (and eventually to a 100 gallon).

So, all I need to do is come up with $420 and find a few strong guys with a truck.

 

[bigbird]

good luck and well done with the tank. Make sure it has no leaks and is safe. cheers jk :thumbup: