Please help - injured bumblebee catfish.

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Jas.bravo34

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Messages
2
Hoping someone can help me.. I have an injured/sick bumblee catfish... I suspect I will have to euthanise him but want to get others thoughts first... particularly if it might be some disease or infection.

Few details below:
- currently in a 16l hospital tank with a cycled sponge filter from original tank
- temp is 26 deg celcius

Parameters
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40
pH: 7.6

I have had him for about 3 months now, took him off someone closing down their tank. Was fine until about 3 days ago I noticed he had a hole in the side of his face! (See pictures)

Was told to add salt to water and treat with pimafix and melafix

I thought he must have been attacked initially but now not too sure. It’s pretty sever and there isn’t anything in the tank that I can see which would hurt him like that.

Doesn’t seem to be improving either.
 

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I believe the pictured catfish is exhibiting a bacterial ulser. A bacterial infection destroyed the underlying flesh, causing the ugly crater. IMO, there is little chance for recovery.
 
Thank you V227.

I have decided it was time, and he is being euthanised this morning (if not already).

i hope it was the right thing to do but after 3 days he is just getting progressively worse and this morning was at the surface and struggled to swim very well...

Poor guy is probably exhausted, starved and stressed as anything.

Ive just never seen anything like it so any information or links would be appreciated in case any of my other fish exhibit symptoms if its contagious... :(
 
Research "Columnaris". That particular bacteria has four different strains, which can attack a fish both internally and externally.
 
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