Helping puffer heal open sore - vitamin food injections?

[zachfishman]

Our large Arothron hispidus has no skin on one side of its tail. This condition started as a small patch and slowly worsened over a month, and did not respond to a Melafix dose (which previously worked for other fish in the same system). The puffer still eats very well (consuming as many shrimp, clams, silversides, squid, and New Era grazer donuts as we'll feed), but when it became lethargic we moved it to a flow-through holding system connected to its original tank.

We suspect the tail wound was prevented from healing by "over-eager" cleaner wrasses in the display, which incessantly picked at the tissue interface. Before taking the more drastic step of full quarantine and immersion medication, I'd like to help the puffer heal on its own by boosting its food with vitamin supplements, etc.

Soaking large foods like shrimp and squid might be ineffective at absorbing products like Vitachem, could I inject a little into such foods? How much should I use? For reference the puffer is about 10" long.

 

[Mrscribbled]

You can inject a drop or two into shrimp. It most likely will not heal with aggressive cleaners present.

 

[zachfishman]

You can inject a drop or two into shrimp. It most likely will not heal with aggressive cleaners present.

That's what I'm hoping - that it will heal now that the puffer is separated from the cleaners.

 

[MrTuskfish]

You may want to use a real antibiotic too. Melafix has no real medicine in it.

 

[zachfishman]

UPDATE

The puffer's tail is healing very fast. It has only been a week and the tail wound has reduced by 50%. No medication has been used. It appears that the overactive cleaners were the cause.