Hi - this is a bit weird. I finished the second dose of bacti-bath today, and, as I was doing the water change recommended, I noticed Gil had a gash in his side. It's a small hole, mostly white as if his flesh were healing, but with a little red in the center. He's just slightly twitchy. Will test his water tomorrow and get back with the readings. In the meantime, I have a little salt and melafix in the water and put him back on medigold. He never had any pus or blisters, so I don't think it's furunculosis, but I don't know. Is it possible he gashed himself on the heater cover? It's a visi-therm heater. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Oh poor little Gil! Its just one thing after another, isnt it? Does it look like he lost a scale? The skin is usually whitish underneath the scales or lighter colored so that could be it. My first thought is something bacterial, which has happened to my ryukin before. Maracyn and M2 and Medigold took care of that. I know youre currently treating him for something else though so I dont know if he would be getting an infection now. It is possible that he could scrape himself. My fish have cut them selves on rocks, filter intakes, and plant weights. Ive never heard of being cut on a heater but I think it is possible.

Jenny, I just wanted to let you know that I think you're right and it was a scale knocked off, most likely. Not sure whether he did it on the heater, but that seems likely, too. In any case, though I'm not satisfied he's completely over whatever-it-is, the hole isn't a problem - the reddish bit has faded to white and it looks smaller and there's no fungus. The salt and melafix and clean water seem to be all he needed for that. So I'm not going to worry (or so I tell myself! ) Thanks again!