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Post by fishfever on May 16, 2009 9:50:16 GMT -5
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Post by fishfever on May 16, 2009 9:54:35 GMT -5
Not sure why the link didn't post right (maybe too long a name?), here it is again:  |
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Post by fishfever on May 16, 2009 9:55:57 GMT -5
And here is the other one:  |
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Post by goldenpuon on May 16, 2009 11:46:50 GMT -5
I am not sure what it is. Perhaps a tumor of some sort? Sorry i can't say more, I do not have any experience with corycatfish or lumps like this on fish. Sorry I can't be of more help. Perhaps someone else will know more.
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Post by murdock6701 on May 16, 2009 23:16:34 GMT -5
not familiar w/ corycats...sorry....maybe a side shot would be more helpful?
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Post by fishfever on May 17, 2009 9:28:13 GMT -5
The first picture I took was from the side but it was much harder to see the spot from the side. Probably because it's easier to illuminate from the top view. I'll try again and play with the lighting to see if I can make it more visible.
If it's a tumor I suppose there's nothing I can do. But if it's something external I was thinking I could give it a medicated bath or even pull the affected area out of the water and medicate with an eyedropper.
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Post by Carl on May 17, 2009 10:38:33 GMT -5
I could not tell too well form the pic (Sorry), this could be Lymphosystis, which is viral, but rarely fatal (the only treatment I found any success with is Usnea. However since this is just one lump, this does not fit the pattern of Lymphosystis, so I would more likely venture a guess of a Saproleginia/Fungus type nodule (look closely with a magnifying glass for small thread like hairs). I would definitely recommend a salt/methylene blue bath with possible direct application of MB on this spot. Carl |
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Post by fishfever on May 17, 2009 16:56:32 GMT -5
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Post by Carl on May 18, 2009 8:38:29 GMT -5
Standard Methylene Blue solutions (2.303%) can be dripped or swabbed (using Q-Tip) directly on the spot (as well as a sore or similar). I will generally swab/drip over a bath then place the fish immediately into the bath. See section #9 in this article (Dips/similar): AQuarium Disease Prevention; Dips & SimilarCarl |
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Post by fishfever on May 22, 2009 11:39:00 GMT -5
I have started the MB/salt regimen for this catfish. I've only given him 2 MB/salt baths but the lump is definitely alot smaller. I had to look alot harder to see it. By the way, one thing you want to do when you give your fish a bath in a small container is cover it up! I got careless with the 2nd bath. I added a bit more salt this bath (hardly any the first bath since I knew catfish are sensitive to it). Well with the second bath he was squirming alot more in the container so I added more water to dilute the salt, within 1/4" of the top. But I forgot to put a top over it unlike the first bath. When I returned 1/2 hour later, I found him laying motionless on the protective floor mat outside the container! I immediately scooped him up and dropped him back in the hospital tank. He appeared to be stunned/shocked for a minute or two but then appeared to recover. This was two days ago and he still seems okay. So the lesson is that fish can and will jump (and are probably more likely to when they are being medicated). I don't know how long he was outside the container but it seems like a miracle he's still alive despite my carelessness. I've since noticed a small white spot near the tail of one of our adult platys (smaller than the one on the catfish). But it was only there a day or so and now there is no trace of it. Today I noticed a white lump on one of our tetras, a Buenos Aires male. I think the lump is way too big to be Ich (and every time I see a lump there is only one lump) so I think this is a fungus growth. I also think it can't be Lymphosystis because now I have seen three occurances of this (assuming it's the same kind of white lump) and the odds of 3 fish developing this simultaneously seems very rare. Plus the catfish lump is shrinking and the platy lump was very short lived. Here are some shots of the tetra lump. Not too clear because he's the most active fish in the tank; constantly moving about and doing all sorts of crazy flips, twists and basically using the tank as his own personal obstacle course! s558.photobucket.com/albums/ss25/fishfever/?action=view¤t=BuenosAiresTetrawithwhitelump1of4.jpgs558.photobucket.com/albums/ss25/fishfever/?action=view¤t=BuenosAiresTetrawithwhitelump2of4.jpgs558.photobucket.com/albums/ss25/fishfever/?action=view¤t=BuenosAiresTetrawithwhitelump3of4.jpgs558.photobucket.com/albums/ss25/fishfever/?action=view¤t=BuenosAiresTetrawithwhitelump4of4.jpgI don't think Ich protrudes that much from other fish pictures I've seen. I've started treating the tank and catfish hospital tank with Seachem's Paraguard since it appears to be the least harmful of the meds I have. It claims to be efficient with fungal/bacterial/viral lesions (I'm not sure if this is considered a lesion). I would probably start the tetra on a MB/salt bath regimen as well. Other ideas for treatment appreciated, thanks. |
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Post by Carl on May 22, 2009 11:51:12 GMT -5
I think you have done well in how you have treated your fish, as well this does not look to be Lymphosystis IMO. Good point as to covering the bath container, where possible, I will not only cover, but will use a floating container in the aquarium so that if the fish should still jump and hit the cover hard enough to "get out", he/she will land in the tank water. As well this also allows any mess of MB to go into the tank (the small amount of MB used in a bath that might accidentally fall into the aquarium would cause no harm to the aquariums nitrifying bacteria) Paraguard is an excellent product and choice, if you are not satisfied with the results, Triple Sulfa might be a good next choice. Carl |
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Post by fishfever on May 23, 2009 7:22:39 GMT -5
Thanks Carl. I looked at the tetra this morning and the lump is already much smaller. Unfortunately morning is his most active time and he never stopped moving in 15 minutes of watching but I could not see anything protruding near his mouth while yesterday it was very obvious even when he was moving. I have only dosed the tank with Paraguard twice so it seems to work very quickly; I'm quite impressed. I was afraid it might discolor the tank some when I saw it was somewhat bluish like MB but even with a full tank dose there's no detectable color change. I didn't even pull the carbon out of the tank; according to the directions you just pour the measured amount in so it doesn't get any easier than that.
The catfish is doing well too. The white lump is merely a small white spot now. I am using Paraguard in his tank now too but the 2 MB/salt baths (well 1 1/2 since he jumped out of the second!) were already helping since the lump was already starting to shrink when I began using Paraguard. So both approaches seemed to work for what is almost surely a fungus and probably together they work even better.
That's a great idea for the floating container bath; wish I had thought of that! I'll definitely use that approach for the next bath I need to give.
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Post by fishfever on May 27, 2009 17:24:32 GMT -5
Final summary: The catfish lump shrunk down pretty quickly until it was a tiny white spot and now is completely gone. The tetra lump shrunk and is still shrinking, although it's still there (but alot smaller). I treated both with Paraguard (and still am daily, using recommended tank doseage). I plan to continue treatment with Paraguard until the tetra is fully clear and maybe a day or so beyond that. The catfish also received two MB/salt baths early on which seemed to jump start the shrinkage before trying Paraguard. I would have to give Paraguard a thumbs up for fungal treatment and for even quicker results add the MB/salt bath periodically.
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