Discus Open Wound

Question

Discus Sore   QUESTION: Hello,
My 2 year old discus has a large, gaping open wound on his forehead(right between the eyes).  I found him this morning lying on this side breathing very slowly(with gills spread open).

My tank is a 75 gallon Planted discus tank with 3 other discus, clown load, 2 mini white spot plecos and a cory.

My first instinct was to do a 50% water change, then dose the main tank with salt, finally i took the fish in a net and dabbed hydrogen peroxide with a cue tip on the wound and put the fish back in the tank.

At the moment it has not been more than 3 hours since i found this problem.....What would you recommend? as in medication and survival rate??


ANSWER: Hi Michael,
This looks very bad...and I would treat with "Tetracycline"  Never put peroxide on a fish.  This sore appears to be fungus, and did not happen overnight. It has probably resulted from an injury that went unnoticed.  Do a 50% water change, keep doing 50% water changes for 3 days, if you see no amelioration, then you will have to treat with "Tetracycline"  
As you know, Discus fish must be kept in extremely clean water all the time.  Water changes without salt, and a good water conditioner often is the only solution to cure them.  I would also recommend vitamins.  Flakes that are rich in vitamins, or even food that has presoaked in a vitamin liguid that you buy at your drugstore.  Diet is very important.
I hope this will help, and that he will recover.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


side view   QUESTION: Hi Linda, thank you first off.

Now i thought the wound was fungus at first as well but the area created a big crevess in his forehead.  meaning i see blood : (.  i will treat the tank as recommended and get that vitamin from walgreens. worst case ill setup a quarinitne and treat with Tetracycline.

Answer
Hi Michael,
Poor thing, it looks really bad.  Like I mentioned to you before, water changes are sometimes the only way to go, but I would use an antibiotic.  I have had success with "Tetracycline."  It might be best to keep him in another set up tank..but then again, a discus can stop eating in a new environment, especially if he has been in his tank for a long time.  It may stress him more.  I have heard that metronidazole is often used when a fish has hole in the head, however, I have never used this medication, so cannot comment on it.  
I sure hope this little guy gets better.  Please keep me posted on how he is doing.
Lynda