My puffer stabbed itself bad, what should I do?

museumguy · 08/01/2008, 10:09 PM

So I am in charge of 4 fish tanks at my job. I am an entomologist (insects) by trade and so they figured they could stick me in charge of 4 salt water tanks too.

Prior to 5 months ago I had zero experience with salt water fish, and they thrust these tanks on me, but I am learning fast and learning a lot. I have:

1200g reef tank
190g predator/fish only tank
125g clownfish/anemone mini reef tank
90g seahorse tank

So today I go out to feed the fish and see my big stars and stripes puffer fish is in a bad way. The puffer fish had gotten tangled up with a big black long spine sea urchin we had in the tank with him. I'm guessing someone hit the tank or something to spook him and he swam full speed into the urchin. He looked like a pin cushion, he had 6-7 black spines sticking out of him, one was sticking out of his eye... It was the tissue around the edge of the eye, not the lense.

Has anyone had experience with this? Any thoughts on what we should do?

We put him into an isolation tank and left the spines in, as per the suggestion of our LRS who we contract with. But they admitted they had never really seen this before, so I was wondering if you had any suggestions. The spines have broken off at the surface of the skin but you can still see half inch long splinters of spine embedded in him. Forgive me for posting this in two forums, but I really want to get him some immediate attention.

Any suggestions?? Help! hehe

Thanks so much!

raen · 08/01/2008, 10:37 PM

I have no words of advice, but sure hope this works out for you and the poor fish. I am sure somone will be able to help! Good luck!!!

ihavtats29 · 08/01/2008, 11:34 PM

you can call the local aquarium/zoo and ask for help you may be able to get expert help or advice on removing the splinters i for sure would not leave them in nor would i have the expertice to perform the removal either

RyanMcLaughlin · 08/02/2008, 12:09 AM

Honestly I think your puffer is a goner. The urchins have a mild venom so it might just be a matter of time. Good luck and hope it works out.

cdbias2 · 08/02/2008, 05:03 AM

15 years ago while snorkaling in the Bahamas I got a stab under one of my fingernails from one of those spines and my nail is still deformed.
I'd say that fish will surely die.
What kind of job do you have? A zoo?

rkelman · 08/02/2008, 06:07 AM

I would catch the fish and pull them out so he can start to heal myself. Although I have no experience or expertise to back it up. Good luck with it.

museumguy · 08/02/2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cdbias2

What kind of job do you have? A zoo?

I work in a children's musuem that has a large indoor butterfly garden as one of our exhibits.

I've learned so much over the last few months. Even though its my job, I'm really getting into the hobby of keeping fish. Its a lot of fun when things are not getting stabbed or catching ich. I've fragged a bunch of stuff and really like the idea of propagating what we already have instead of buying wild caught animals.

GSMguy · 08/02/2008, 09:04 AM

this kind of stuff happens i heard of a 14 inch unicorn tang impaling himself on a rock swimming too fast.

i think these fish need more room than we give them...

museumguy · 08/02/2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
this kind of stuff happens i heard of a 14 inch unicorn tang impaling himself on a rock swimming too fast.

i think these fish need more room than we give them...

Great I have one of those too.. That'll be next.

cdbias2 · 08/02/2008, 10:04 AM

Where are you located?
Cool job.
I'd love to see the exhibit.

museumguy · 08/02/2008, 10:40 AM

I'm from the Strong National Musuem of Play in Rochester, NY.

08/01/2008, 10:09 PM	#1
museumguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,089	My puffer stabbed itself bad, what should I do? So I am in charge of 4 fish tanks at my job. I am an entomologist (insects) by trade and so they figured they could stick me in charge of 4 salt water tanks too. Prior to 5 months ago I had zero experience with salt water fish, and they thrust these tanks on me, but I am learning fast and learning a lot. I have: 1200g reef tank 190g predator/fish only tank 125g clownfish/anemone mini reef tank 90g seahorse tank So today I go out to feed the fish and see my big stars and stripes puffer fish is in a bad way. The puffer fish had gotten tangled up with a big black long spine sea urchin we had in the tank with him. I'm guessing someone hit the tank or something to spook him and he swam full speed into the urchin. He looked like a pin cushion, he had 6-7 black spines sticking out of him, one was sticking out of his eye... It was the tissue around the edge of the eye, not the lense. Has anyone had experience with this? Any thoughts on what we should do? We put him into an isolation tank and left the spines in, as per the suggestion of our LRS who we contract with. But they admitted they had never really seen this before, so I was wondering if you had any suggestions. The spines have broken off at the surface of the skin but you can still see half inch long splinters of spine embedded in him. Forgive me for posting this in two forums, but I really want to get him some immediate attention. Any suggestions?? Help! hehe Thanks so much!

08/01/2008, 10:37 PM	#2
raen Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3,084	I have no words of advice, but sure hope this works out for you and the poor fish. I am sure somone will be able to help! Good luck!!! __________________ Rae N. She wasn't wicked, she only liked the shoes!!! Current Tank Info: 60 Gall Hex, 3 #3's, no fuge..........YET!!!

08/01/2008, 11:34 PM	#3
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	you can call the local aquarium/zoo and ask for help you may be able to get expert help or advice on removing the splinters i for sure would not leave them in nor would i have the expertice to perform the removal either __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

08/02/2008, 09:04 AM	#8
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	this kind of stuff happens i heard of a 14 inch unicorn tang impaling himself on a rock swimming too fast. i think these fish need more room than we give them... __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

08/02/2008, 12:09 AM	#4
RyanMcLaughlin Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anaheim Posts: 982	Honestly I think your puffer is a goner. The urchins have a mild venom so it might just be a matter of time. Good luck and hope it works out.

08/02/2008, 05:03 AM	#5
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	15 years ago while snorkaling in the Bahamas I got a stab under one of my fingernails from one of those spines and my nail is still deformed. I'd say that fish will surely die. What kind of job do you have? A zoo?

08/02/2008, 06:07 AM	#6
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I would catch the fish and pull them out so he can start to heal myself. Although I have no experience or expertise to back it up. Good luck with it.

08/02/2008, 10:04 AM	#10
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Where are you located? Cool job. I'd love to see the exhibit.

08/02/2008, 10:40 AM	#11
museumguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,089	I'm from the Strong National Musuem of Play in Rochester, NY.