URGENT: Shark's skin coming off/infected?? Help please!
- Thread starter Danomind
- Start date
I am pretty amazed he is still alive and kickin'...I've never seen a fish recover from wounds like that. He's a fighter for sure and hopefully he'll continue to heal.
Great to hear he is recovering!!! OH SO HAPPY! 
We need to see some pics!
AlthoughI dont use meds myself, at least refrain from them as often as possible if you see some serious new tissue growth while using the meds, I'd stick to what I'm doing. If you see his wounds worsening when you started the meds, I'd stop them... really its up to the results for this decision.
Use them if you think you see him healing, stop the use if you think you see him worsening.
What an awesome little guy! He sure is a fighter. If he gets through this I think he deserves a nice big home all to himself.
Again, do what you think is best. We're not there seeing him day to day. If his appetite is back up and his wounds are healing then I'd keep with what you are doing. Keep up the water changes regardless. Those will do nothing but good for the fishey! Also, dont forget to keep the water you are replacing during changes as close to the same temp of the water he is in. This will reduce stress from rapid temp changes.
Good job!
EDIT: Just re-read- this is the med with formaldehyde in it? I wouldn't use that... ever.
We need to see some pics!AlthoughI dont use meds myself, at least refrain from them as often as possible if you see some serious new tissue growth while using the meds, I'd stick to what I'm doing. If you see his wounds worsening when you started the meds, I'd stop them... really its up to the results for this decision.
Use them if you think you see him healing, stop the use if you think you see him worsening.
What an awesome little guy! He sure is a fighter. If he gets through this I think he deserves a nice big home all to himself.
Again, do what you think is best. We're not there seeing him day to day. If his appetite is back up and his wounds are healing then I'd keep with what you are doing. Keep up the water changes regardless. Those will do nothing but good for the fishey! Also, dont forget to keep the water you are replacing during changes as close to the same temp of the water he is in. This will reduce stress from rapid temp changes.
Good job!
EDIT: Just re-read- this is the med with formaldehyde in it? I wouldn't use that... ever.
Viva, yes the med he was using is a formaldehyde killer LOL. No-No for open wounds.
Damo, you're to be congratulated for sticking with this regimen.... nicely done and keep it up!
P.S. I LOVE this new Illness and Disease subsection. I feel right at home here LOL
Damo, you're to be congratulated for sticking with this regimen.... nicely done and keep it up!
P.S. I LOVE this new Illness and Disease subsection. I feel right at home here LOL
kjr928
Go fish yourself.
Ok so let's just say hypothetically this fish does miraculously heal.
THEN WHAT???
The tank is too small. Like mentioned before, it will need 500+ gallons. The OP mentions that he lives in an area so incredibly remote that he is unable to get the proper medications. Where is he going to get a tank set up that size? If he lives in such a remote area, how will he even find someone to eventually adopt a fish that size?
I think that if this fish does ever heal, it will either get re-injured or become very ill due to the cramped quarters and aggressive tankmates (sooner rather than later). Then this WHOLE PROCESS of SUFFERING gets started all over again.
I think that this fish should be euthanized, because I do not see a bright future ahead of it, even if it does survive this terrible injury.
Clove oil can be purchased on the internet, fyi.
THEN WHAT???
The tank is too small. Like mentioned before, it will need 500+ gallons. The OP mentions that he lives in an area so incredibly remote that he is unable to get the proper medications. Where is he going to get a tank set up that size? If he lives in such a remote area, how will he even find someone to eventually adopt a fish that size?
I think that if this fish does ever heal, it will either get re-injured or become very ill due to the cramped quarters and aggressive tankmates (sooner rather than later). Then this WHOLE PROCESS of SUFFERING gets started all over again.
I think that this fish should be euthanized, because I do not see a bright future ahead of it, even if it does survive this terrible injury.
Clove oil can be purchased on the internet, fyi.
kj, this is a tough one. The argument you make here is solid; remote location and little possibility to ever make a tank that size a reality. I have to wonder, how did you come across this fish in the first place? As I said earlier in this thread, IMHO paroons should not be sold to the general public without certain clear demonstrations.
Damo, do you have any idea how old this catfish is? When and where did you get him?
Regardless, I have a personal story on this one. I care for an irridescent shark (pangasius catfish). These guys don't get as monstrously huge as the paroons, but they still need 400-500 gallons to be truly happy. I know the specimen was wild caught and likely ~5 years old at time of purchase. My wife (long before I met her) cared for this fish and he sadly spent nearly ten years in a 55 gallon tank; utterly tragic.
The result? When I came to care for him I could tell he was clearly stunted, had finrot, and had developed significant cataracts (a common affliction for this species likely accelerated by the poor conditions). He now lives in my 125 gallon Asian biotope and his health has improved dramatically. Still, he will (sadly) never get any bigger; the damage is done. His swollen, cataract filled eyes also make him unattractive for a potential customer if he was to be rehomed. This is one of those cases when you really are in the best situation to care for the specimen. The situation still stinks, but the best possible palliative care if provided. They usually live ~20-30 years in captivity so I know one day soon, I'll find he has passed. I will take comfort knowing that he had the best possible existence in his last days.
As for this paroon, if he continues his recovery, he's probably going to have massive scarring. No fish store will accept him for rehome thinking he can be sold (but may, perhaps, out of pity). This paroon has shown unbelievable resilience and is a fighter.... I don't beleive he deserves to be put down. I do believe it is now damo's responsibility to make the best out of a bad situation and find a way to get him into the largest tank possible for a permanent home. That might mean getting online and finding someone "locally" with a tank that is suitable, or minimally, buying and setting up a 150 - 250 gallon tank to at least improve this lousy situation. It's going to be really tough....
Damo, under no circumstances can you return him to the original tank and expect him to do anything other than suffer greatly. I think this is the core of what kj is saying and I agree with him/her.
DV
kjr928
Go fish yourself.
DV, your points are also very valid.
I guess you could say that I don't view death as a bad thing - instead I view suffering as a bad thing. Every living thing is going to die anyway - and sometimes dying sooner can actually be a blessing.
If the shark is going to live a horrible life after suffering so terribly, I think he will be happier just being dead.
I think he's due to go off to his watery heaven ahead of time. You'll be doing him a favor.
I guess you could say that I don't view death as a bad thing - instead I view suffering as a bad thing. Every living thing is going to die anyway - and sometimes dying sooner can actually be a blessing.
If the shark is going to live a horrible life after suffering so terribly, I think he will be happier just being dead.
I think he's due to go off to his watery heaven ahead of time. You'll be doing him a favor.
Danomind is not in the USA, and "remote" may be very remote.
Sooo... I guess that's not where you're located, or maybe you are... don't answer that.
Ok, what about a zoo or municipal aquarium?
He absolutely needs a bigger tank, if the poor guy makes it, and it sure seems like he just might.
We haven't seen any pics or had and update in a while. Please let us know how he is. We are all on pins and needles, wanting to hear more about how your tough guy is faring.
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I would agree with kjr928 with the sending him off to fishy heaven before releasing him into the wild. I would see if there was a zoo or municipal aquarium as Melody also suggested.
I dont see why these or any of the other tank busters are aloud to be sold to the general public I feel these should only be allowed to be sold to people with permits cuz honestly if u could afford a 500+ gallon aquarium for several Pacu or in this case a Paroon shark then you could afford a permit and be willin to provide proof you got the adequate space to house and care for it.
I dont see why these or any of the other tank busters are aloud to be sold to the general public I feel these should only be allowed to be sold to people with permits cuz honestly if u could afford a 500+ gallon aquarium for several Pacu or in this case a Paroon shark then you could afford a permit and be willin to provide proof you got the adequate space to house and care for it.
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