Wen (head growth) Trimming

pm94 Level 1 Posts: 18 (6/4/03 4:34 am) Reply Re: Wen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please tell the trimming procedure. I've got one oranda whose wen is closing in around the eyes. Was gonna post a question about trimming too, but will jump on the bandwagon.

darkmoondreamer Level 2 Posts: 131 (6/4/03 12:39 pm) Reply Re: Wen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure if the procedure I use is technically correct, but I do the best I can. One thing to note is that although the wens are extremely visible in the water, they can be very hard to see with the fish completely out of the water. What I generally do is net the fish and gently hold it still in the net with my left hand barely under the water. The fish seems less stressed in the water, and I can see the wen better. You want to make as few clips as you can to get the job done, so it is important to know exactly what you want to clip. I use ultra sharp small embroidery scissors. I clean them thoroughly with rubbing alchohol. Lift up the piece of wen with the bottom portion of the scissors, position the top where you want to cut and then snip. There should not be any bleeding, and the snipped portion looks like a solid piece of jelly. Swab the area with a tiny amount of iodine or peroxide and you are done. If you'd like to you can swab for a couple of days to be certain there is no infection. It is really a simple procedure and although a little intimidating the first time you hold a fish, as long as you are gentle they are fine. It can also be a good idea to add a little StressCoat to the water afterwards, because by holding the fish you have disturbed his slime coat a little, and this in itself can leave him vulnerable to sickness. Hope this has helped somewhat. Love always, Karen

sootica Level 5 Posts: 403 (6/4/03 1:07 pm) Reply Wen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Karen, your advice was great. I don't think I need to give Carmen a haircut yet, but if she carries on as she is she'll definitely need a trim one day!

darkmoondreamer