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Is this a battle wound or could it be something worse?

I moved my golden nugget to a separate tank because she (I think it's a female) was getting very terrorial with my zebras. She's in a really small tank until I'm able to get her 20g setup and ready for her.

1. Water parameters
a) temp 86-88F
b) ph 7
c) GH - unknown
d) KH - unknown
e) Ammonia: 0, Nitrate: 20, Nitrite: 0
f) Water change frequency: 20% 3 times every week

2. Tank set up
a) Size: Small
b) Substrate: thin layer of small river rock
c) Filtration: Sponge filtration with power head
d) Furnishings: some java moss and drift wood for cover and to munch on
e) Other tank mates: plants and some red cherry shrimp that snuck through the other side
f) How long has it been set-up: over 1 year
g) When was the last new fish added: Red cherry shrimp was added this week (she had the scab when I moved her)
h) Foods used and frequency: algea wafers, zucchini, and brine shrimp plus as a treat. I feed her once at night and clean up uneaten food the next day before I leave for work.

3. Symptoms / Problem description: Scab appeared. Not sure if it's a battle wound from the zebras but would rather be safe than have it worsen.

4. Action taken (if any) : I plan to double up on the water changes to keep the water quality prestine to help her heal up.


5. Medications used (if any) : none.



- Angela

Hi Angela,

I would think that it's either a battle-scar or a heater-burn.

I think your plan of plenty of water-changes is a good one. I had a Ancistrus sp(3) get a much bigger scar from heater-burn, and it coped fine - these are fairly hardy fish.

You may want to add some mela-fix to the water and make sure you have as much oxygen going in the tank as possible (add an extra-air-stone if you can).

--
Mats

Thanks Mats!

Going out to supply myself with new airstones and filter items today after work.

Pretty sure it's a battle scar but wanted to make sure. Couldn't be heater burn because the tank she was in has the heater in the overflow (back in the wet/dry area).

Have a great weekend everyone!

- Angela

man i wish my goldy nugget had a car

It could have scraped against something, but it should go away, without any treatment necessary. My GN had one a large one day, which worried be. Strangely, a day or 2 later, there was no sign of it.