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help diagnosing this?

1K views 9 replies 2 participants last post by  GwenInNM 
#1 ·
I took my dwarf rainbow out of the tank, and put in a 5 gal bucket on Monday, when I noticed what looked like "hole in head" and lumps under his scales, near his tail. I've been testing the bucket water twice a day, using prime, but have no ammonia or nitrates, so far. I'm not feeding him, so minimizing any waste. I also have an airstone in the bucket.

I've had this fish for 8 months, my tank is always kept very clean, with nitrates never going above 10ppm. I have no ammonia or nitrites, and the tank is well planted. No other fish are showing symptoms. I just switched over on Saturday from an Aquaclear 70 to a fluval 305

On Monday I put in the bucket with the fish, medicine called "General Cure" by API. Active ingred is 250mg Metronidazole and 75mg Praziquantel. Looking at him today, I was hoping to see some improvement.

Can someone tell from this picture what the lumps by his tail could be? Perhaps I'm not treating with the right stuff, or is it normal to take longer? This is my first ill fish. I'm suppose to treat another 48 hours, and I'm really hoping I can do this in a bucket without water parameters changing. The packet seems to treat gil and skin flukes, hole in head and wasting disease

I thought it might be an external parasite, which the LFS said this would work on. He may have been wild caught, (the LFS I got him from didn't know), and came with an external parasite, perhaps?

Any help in telling me what this could be is appreciated!

Gwen
 

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#2 ·

I found some info on lumps/bumps. I've copied it here:
Lumps and bumps: there are a number of diseases that begin this way. (1) tumors or lymphocystis which are viral in origin and not treatable, (2) fish pox which is also viral and not treatable (3) various forms of ulcer disease which are caused by Pseudomonas or Aeromonas and are treatable, (4) HITH or LLE which has varied causes and treatments, (5) Costia - a parasite that nearly always causes little red hemorrhages, especially under the chin, (6) various bacterial diseases caused by such as Columnaris, (7) Neoplasm formations.

So, not sure what to do. Should I put him back, and hope it "pops" on it's own. Is viral contagious?

Gwen
 
#3 ·
That's a tough call Gwen. Sometimes it's impossible to narrow it down to what it actually is. Is there any way to put him in a clear cup and get some better pictures of it? Maybe someone will be able to help identify with a better pic.
 
#4 ·

Thanks Romad,

I'm not going to stress him at this point, and take additional pics. I stopped by the LFS where I got them, and talked to "my" knowledgeable guy who works there. He did not think it would be bacterial, because I keep my water very clean, never let my nitrates get over 10ppm, and do weekly water changes. He thinks it is likely a tumor, which is not treatable. I'm going to finish the meds, and probably return him to the tank. Once he's in the tank, I'll see if I can get a good picture, and see what feedback you or others have. I don't want to keep the poor guy in a bucket by himself much longer :-(

Tomorrow ends the treatment. We'll see from there.

Gwen
 
#6 ·
update

Okay, here's the update with my dwarf rainbow. I followed the recommended time with meds, and one evening extra, because he was looking okay (not stressed, no ammonia etc) in the bucket. I did a 50% WC this morning and returned him to the tank with his friends. I was a bit worried last night, because I tried offering him food in the bucket and he didn't eat. He got in the tank, ate, did some "flirting" with one of the females, kind of that dance they do. :) So, he is looking okay. Unfortunately, the meds did nothing for the lump near his tail, and I guess I fear that is a tumor. I have no idea how long he'll live. What did appear to be "hole in head" does look cleared up. Strange he'd even get that. So, for now he's fine.

I'll feel bad losing him, because I'm guessing that will eventually happen, maybe sooner than later. If anyone has any idea of how to treat that lump, or has had something like that with a fish, and found something that worked - PLEASE TELL ME!

Thanks

Gwen
 
#10 ·

Here's the side view - can't really see much, except his tail fin has a small tear in the middle. Lumps are there, but so far he seems okay. I hope he can live for awhile and not go down hill.

Gwen
 

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