Catfish With Lump Under Chin

[jasonrudd]

Over the last few weeks we have noticed a lump under the chin of our catfish. Sometimes it appears there is no lump. We are most concerned. Here is a link to some youtube footage of the catfish and his? lump: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsYoZi5ttfw

Thank-you for your help.

 

[WILDER]

Thats quite a big lump.
Would you say the lump looked soft like filled with fluid, or hard looking.
Lumps that suddenly appear are usually bacterial.

 

[jasonrudd]

Thats quite a big lump.
Would you say the lump looked soft like filled with fluid, or hard looking.
Lumps that suddenly appear are usually bacterial.

It looks quite soft. Also one day it is there and the next not. In fact it disappeared the day after this footage and is back again now. So I would guess it is not hard.

We have added quite a few barbs recently, but the conditions seem good still. We test with strips.

If it is bacterial what should we do? An antibacterial obviously, but wont that upset the filter bacteria? Is there anything we can do about that? We have has some bad experiences in the past.

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

That strange.
Soft lumps filled with fluid is bacterial. Also best to issolate incase they burst and infect the tank.
is it possible to issolate the fish for treatment.
What's your location.

 

[jasonrudd]

That strange.
Soft lumps filled with fluid is bacterial. Also best to issolate incase they burst and infect the tank.
is it possible to issolate the fish for treatment.
What's your location.

Isolation is possible we have a small tank (1ft cubed, roughly) and a pump and heater. We could transfer him there for treatment. Would it be OK to use water from the existing tank, that would be less hard on him?

Location is Suffolk, UK.

Thank you for your advice. We've become quite attached to him.

 

[WILDER]

Yes it fine to use the main tank water.
Lfs meds are only good on mild bacterial infections.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet. You can double dose in severe cases.
Try him with the normal dose first and if he copes you might what to think about double dosing.

 

[jasonrudd]

Yes it fine to use the main tank water.
Lfs meds are only good on mild bacterial infections.
Anti internal bacteria med by interpet. You can double dose in severe cases.
Try him with the normal dose first and if he copes you might what to think about double dosing.

Lfs meds? Sorry I don't understand.

 

[WILDER]

Local fish stores meds only tend to work on mild bacterial infections.
if its a bad bacterial infections you needs antibiotics which are only available through a vet in the uk.
Antibiotics should only be used in issolation.

Is the hospital tank big enough for him as the catfish looked quite big in the video,.
Plenty of aeration with meds as they reduce 02 in the water.

Some info on lumps and bumps.
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article25.html

 

[jasonrudd]

Local fish stores meds only tend to work on mild bacterial infections.
if its a bad bacterial infections you needs antibiotics which are only available through a vet in the uk.
Antibiotics should only be used in issolation.

Is the hospital tank big enough for him as the catfish looked quite big in the video,.
Plenty of aeration with meds as they reduce 02 in the water.

Some info on lumps and bumps.
[URL="http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article25.html"]http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article25.html[/URL]

Excellent link thanks.

We have a friendly vet - we spent £200 'trying' to save our fantail (who also had a lump, this was about a year ago).

The catfish is about 4-5 inches - we do have a spare larger tank, its 40 litre. I think the smaller one is a 10 litre. The main tank is 80 litre.

Sounds like I should consider new filter material too.

 

[WILDER]

I would use the 40 litre tank.
How many fish do you have in the 80 litre.
Do you have water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
is the gravel sharp that it could be damaging his chin area.

 

[jasonrudd]

I would use the 40 litre tank.
How many fish do you have in the 80 litre.
Do you have water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
is the gravel sharp that it could be damaging his chin area.

16 Barbs, the catfish and a ruby shark.

NO3 75 mg/l, NO2 0mg/l, ph 7.2. No ammonia reading right now.

Hardness GH>5d, KH 6d

And, yes the gravel is quite rough - we should look at replacing, or maybe resurfacing, it.

I'm getting a little tired to read now. I will try and get ammonia stats tomorrow. thank you for your help.

 

[jasonrudd]

I would use the 40 litre tank.
How many fish do you have in the 80 litre.
Do you have water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
is the gravel sharp that it could be damaging his chin area.

16 Barbs, the catfish and a ruby shark.

NO3 75 mg/l, NO2 0mg/l, ph 7.2. No ammonia reading right now.

Hardness GH>5d, KH 6d

And, yes the gravel is quite rough - we should look at replacing, or maybe resurfacing, it.

I'm getting a little tired to read now. I will try and get ammonia stats tomorrow. thank you for your help.

Incidentally during the time of this conversation yesterday the lump had disappeared once again - i.e. in the space of an hour. We were convinced for a while he was storing food in his chin. Most odd. Although I have to say he was looking a little peekish this morning and I fully expect the lump to return at some point in the next few days. We will continue down the the hospital-tank route.

 

[WILDER]

Ruby sharks need over 40 gallons tanks.

Also your nitrate readings very high.
What are your other stats.
How often do you do a gravel vac and water change,
When did you last rinse one of your filter sponges in old tank water.

I would preform a water change.

 

[jasonrudd]

[/quote]

Incidentally during the time of this conversation yesterday the lump had disappeared once again - i.e. in the space of an hour. We were convinced for a while he was storing food in his chin. Most odd. Although I have to say he was looking a little peekish this morning and I fully expect the lump to return at some point in the next few days. We will continue down the the hospital-tank route.
[/quote]


And if that wasn't weird enough, upon returning home this evening the lump is back up.

 

[WILDER]

Your water stats are bad and that can cause desease.
Can you answer some of the above questions please.