Hospital tank question

[Vineheart01]

Had a congo tetra male get his tail hurt, it's all red and bloody looking though he isn't leaving trails of blood.

Managed to get him out, bugger still fast as hell, and put him in a 2.5gal hospital tank. Tossed in some medication, API fin and body cure since it was all I could find that seemed like it would help wounds.

My question is cover. Only thing in that tank is a fake log big enough for him to hide in, but it's near a window and we'll traveled area. Should I drape a towel over it?

 

[CfishGo]

If it were me, I would. Just so he can chill while trying to recover.

 

[Andy Sager]

For starters, a 2 1/2 gallon tank is too small for a hospital tank. It's too easy to overdose a small tank like that and for the parameters to get deadly very quickly.
You should not have anything in a hospital tank that can absorb things out of the water ( what is the fake log made of? )
In this thread ( Quarantine tanks and Hospital tanks, are they really different? ) I explain the proper way to set up and use a hospital tank in post #2.

I would definitely cover the tank so that the fish doesn't jump out and you want to keep the fish quiet while recuperating.
Hope this helps.

 

[Vineheart01]

I did notice that the med packet mentions a 10gal per pack so I measured out 1/4th a dose for it.

The log is just a generic plastic log, unsure exactly what type. Just one of those cheap fake aquarium ornaments. He's not even using it so I could probably take it out, I've never seen my Congos go into any of the cave areas in my main tank. Assuming that's due to the redtailed chasing them out though lol.

I have covered the tank. He seems fine right now, I probably mega stressed him out chasing him in my 75gal main tank as he started floating facing vertically for a few minutes. Not doing that now but still scared me lol

 

[Andy Sager]

I did notice that the med packet mentions a 10gal per pack so I measured out 1/4th a dose for it.

The log is just a generic plastic log, unsure exactly what type. Just one of those cheap fake aquarium ornaments. He's not even using it so I could probably take it out, I've never seen my Congos go into any of the cave areas in my main tank. Assuming that's due to the redtailed chasing them out though lol.

I have covered the tank. He seems fine right now, I probably mega stressed him out chasing him in my 75gal main tank as he started floating facing vertically for a few minutes. Not doing that now but still scared me lol

Here's the thing: Those premeasured doses are for actual water volume. A 2.5 gallon tank, even filled all the way to the very top of the tank, does not hold 2 1/2 gallons of water. So if you used 1/4 of a full 10 gallon dose, you have overdosed the tank. It may not be enough to be lethal but could have adverse effects on the fish's organs in the long run. This is why smaller tanks are so tough to use as hospital tanks. Medicines should be more accurate to get the desired results without repercussions.

Congo Tetras are active swimmers, not cave dwellers so I'd remove the log and replace with artificial non absorbing plastic plants for security. They will also displace less water than a ceramic log would.

Regarding catching fish in a large tank: Use 2 nets. Use a larger deeper net as your catching net and a smaller net to be the " chase" or guiding net so that you can guide the fish towards the larger net without chasing it and stressing it out. Place the catch net in an open area with one side against the glass/ acrylic. Fish will generally shy away from a net so you don't have to chase the fish but just use the guiding net in the path the fish was going and it will usually reverse course. Keep moving the guide net towards the fish making the fish want to go towards the catch net. Once the fish is in the catch net, just turn the net so that the tank closes off any escape and you can scoop the fish up. This is much less stress on the fish.

 

[Vineheart01]

He does seem to relax more with the fake plants as opposed to the log. Earlier when I put the fake plants in he started to freak out and I thought he was about to jump out of the tank.

He's healing, tail is a scabbed red color now instead of bloody red so that's good. Still high strung and not eating, least when I'm nearby anyway.

Hopefully his tail heals soon so I can putm back in the main tank