Cancer?

[TribeOfShroom]

As you can see from my stock list I keep 2 Black Widow Tetra, which have been fine for ages, but the past couple of months one of them as developed a large black growth on its bottom jaw and developed small black blobs of what looks like pigment leakage under the scales. Now when it started I treated with protozin and internal bacterial. But nothing seemed to have an affect and the fish didn't seem bothered at all that it had the growth.

It's still alive and apart from the growth I would say its a perfectly healthy fish. Feeding, swimming etc all ok. I'm just concerned over this growth. Could it be a cancerous growth? If so what can I do?

 

[Mikaila31]

I can't tell you what it is or how to cure it, but I see this every now and then. I have never been able to figure out what it is, but I have only seen it in Black window tetras. It seems to spread very slowly and I have seen some fish completely cover in it. It also seems to be able to spread to the fins of the fish. As it progresses the fish becomes very black and lumpy, but seems to act normally. I haven't dealt with it first hand, but I have checked up on fish that that have it. Also all the ones that I see with it seem to be older fish, never young ones.

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[TribeOfShroom]

I have heard other Black widow keepers speak of it as well, but no one seems to have a clear answer to what it is or how to cure it

 

[WILDER]

Can be due to old age as well look under black patches.
http/www.fbas.co.uk/ASK3.html#widows

 

[TribeOfShroom]

If there's nothing I can do about it, when should I consider 'helping' him on his way. Because at the moments he's feeding and swimming fine.. I'm guessing once he starts being unable to feed etc? I don't want the little guy to suffer.

 

[guppy fan]

I'm so sorry!

I would put the fish down when it seems misruble more often than it does happy. I might also do it when the fish stops eating as starving to death is an extreemly painfull way to go. Spend lots of time enjoying your fishy before he/she goes.

 

[WILDER]

He sounds fine at the moment so leave him, sadly you will no when to end his suffering.
Good luck.