[jdk79]

Hi... I have had 3 6-8 inch reds in the same tank for about a month now... never more than a fin nip but today one of them had a 50 cent piece size taken out of his side. It didn't get to the organs but you can just see the pink of them thru the flesh that is missing. I put him in his own 20 gallon tank and I was wondering if this would heal? Or is he gonna die? Sorry I don't have a digi camara or I would show you guys. Some of his skin is just hanging... What do you think?? Thanks

 

[SnowCichlid.]

Good move on isolating the fish... turn up the water temp a tad and add some aquarium salt to the tank.
Hope he lives for you...
........what size tank were they in?

 

[jdk79]

I had 3 of them in a 75 gallon... plenty big enough for them, I have no idea what started that big of a bite? Is reg. table salt ok to use? Turn the temp up to about 82-83 sound good? Thanks

 

[hastatus]

started that big of a bite? Is reg. table salt ok to use?

I'm not sure where this add salt to everything started, but it is a bit ridiculous. Serrasalmins, in particular piranas do not need salt to heal wounds. They have a natural enzyme in their system that heals bite wounds naturally. All you have to do is put fish in a quaratine tank and leave it there to heal. Case in point:

Morphophallaxism of genus Pygocentrus. No salt or any other drug added to this tank and the fish healed rapidly.

Anytime you add something, be it salt or other drug you are putting your fish at risk because it is already under stress from the bite.

 

[pcrose]

That is really cool that they heal so fast, someone should make a point to some health officals about how fast the p's heal, then some people would be a lot healthier.

 

[hastatus]

someone should make a point to some health officals about how fast the p's heal

The information from my web site is already being studied within the medical field. Thank you for bringing it up.

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

make sure to keep the hospital tank water extra clean, like 20% water changes every other day, and with a temp of 82 or so. This will help it heal fast, just watch out for infections! As stated almost all fish meds can or do kill piranhas, they are much more reactive to medications, so steer clear of them at all costs.