Fish Surgery?

[SquidBreath]

Hey guys...I have two problems...that I was about to make a move on, and decided I had better bounce this off the heads of those that know more...

My mama clownfish (no eggs yet, but she keeps teasin' me) has a problem.
About a month ago, while I cleaning the tank, and she was loving removing plugs of flesh from the soft spots between my fingers, she bit the acrylic scrub pad. She came away with a piece of it stuck between her bottom teeth. It's not inhibiting feeding, but I know it's got to be painful and driving her crazy.

My new male Goby...was brutally assaulted by...wait for it...a Lawnmower Blenny.
The blenny was recently re-homed, but he really messed up the goby's tail. Looks like those combed blenny teeth are just right for ripping the flesh out from the fan of a tail or fin.
All the other fins are recovering...he is eating...displaying...defending...and otherwise acting normal...but his tail is now...shrinking.
Thought it might be fin rot, but in all other cases of fin rot that I have observed, it will start attacking other fins as well. This is only the tail...all his other damage has healed, but his tail is still degenerating.

Been thinking I may have to be ready to do surgery :-( Prune-iodine)
Anyone know a good fish anesthetic?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Haddonisreef]

Wi the clown if u can net it and pull the scrub pad out w a pair of tweaser while hold it w the net. The tail on the goby I'd leave alone and be sure it's eating good! Are few yrs ago had a tang take a bit of supper glue from a plug I had just glued down, I had to net it and pull it off was no big deal. Good luck!

 

[jahmic]

+1 only thing I would do different is not net the clown. They have barbs on their gill covers that can get caught in the net. I use an acclimation box that has "vents" that allow water to drain out when you remove it from the tank. I'd just wear gloves and hold the fish while you remove the debris.

 

[SquidBreath]

thanks for the replies, guys!
blue nitrile gloves? Reef safe disposible? Any recommendations?
This is actually something I needed to ask anyway as my left hand is getting all scaly and scarred from stings...hehe.

Thanks
Dave

 

[jahmic]

I use disposable nitrile gloves. You mainly want to avoid the powdered latex type since they typically use cornstarch in them...not sure what that'd do to the tank. Aside from that...any rubber/nitrile gloves should be fine.

 

[FoCoAquarist]

I use MS-222 for an anesthetic. Even if you don't put her all the way out and just sedate her a little, she'd probably be a lot easier to work with.

 

[SquidBreath]

Thank you! Wow this is exactly the stuff...ordering some straight away.

 

[SquidBreath]

sweet..nitrile...cheap easy! thanks!

 

[FoCoAquarist]

No problem. Pm me if you have any questions about it.