I got two new ottos for my tank yesterday, (totaling three). Today, I was watching the smallest one clean, and I noticed a yellowish white ball about three mm in diameter under his left gill. I can't tell if it bothers him, but he is the most frantic cleaner in the tank currently.

1. What is this?

2. Can it be cured?

3. Is it contagious?


Thanks,
Brian

duno,
i have some, never heard of what you oto has got, hope he gets better

Unfortunantly, I don't have a proper tank to set him aside in, I have a 10 gallon, but it's unfiltered and unheated, so I don't want to subject him to that. I can't run the risk of having this infect my other fish, and I'm not too attached to this one, yet, so if noone knows what this is, I might have to euthanize it.

I know that someone knows or has an idea of what this is, please help, a cute fish's life is in danger!

I also just notice that when viewed from above, he blges out some on the same side as the ball, but not in the same place, farther towards the tail. I will try to get a picture asap, but he might be hard to picturalize.

This was the best picture I could get. It's fuzzy because it up so close, but you can see the difference from side to side, in real life you can clearly see a small ball.

Thanks,
Brian

Refering to a disease chart on "Pandora's Aqaurium" I think that this might be what she calls "a tumor of unknown cause." Anyways I'm worried about my other fish, so if no one knows what this is before about 5pm PST he's getting euthanized, I hate to do it, but I'm not as attached to him as I am to my other fish.

It's a fungal infection without a doubt. I had the same problem with an Otto I owned before. It's a very lengthly process to treat but does have a good sucess rate. Your going to need some fungal infection medicine (A name doesnt drop into my head) and follow its instructions.

Do you know if it is infectious?

Moderatly infectious, the best bet is to quarantine the fish immediately. The infection usually comes about from a cut or abrasion the fish has had which has obviously become infected. With bottom dwelling fish it is notorious.

Best of Luck

Number 8 "Anti Fungus & FinRot" may be what you need

Alright, I put him in my unheated tank, I didn't want to, but if he's curable and infectious, I can't keep him in the community tank, and I can't bear to kill him.

Alright, today I spent 40 dollars on a biowheel, heater, substrate and meds for my 10 gallon tank. I can't believe I care that much about a fish that I bought three days ago to spend 40 dollars on a 3 dollar fish

I seem to have this problem with my favorite swordtail Coral, she has a strange white lump by her gil, so would bactrial control help treat her?