Enlarged Lumps On Fish

[MoonstruckMuse]

Tank size: 20 gallon long
pH: 8 pH
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
tank temp: 78

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Large, distended area, often isolated to one side, near the belly/gut. No change in behavior, no pineconing of the body, no redness or other symptoms for most fish. The betta's protrusion recently has started to look veiny and disturbing to me, and she's hiding significantly more.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Water is overfiltered - 2 HOB filters, with a 10% water change every 2 weeks.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Stress Coat, that's about it.

Tank inhabitants: All community fish - Pristella Tetras, Gold Barbs, Rosy Barbs, SAE, female Betta, Black Widows

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None.

This strange occurrence has PERSISTED for well over 6 months in the following 2 fish. 1 other fish seem to have picked it up and recovered, but others eventually died with no other plausible cause of death (3 at least - 2 rosy barbs and one gold). A senegal bichir also lived in this tank as a juvie, and has a large lump, though he's now in his own tank. We've tried feeding peas, as well as treating with Melafix for 10 days without any noticeable results.

I'm posting a pic of each fish that is currently sick, and then linking the rest - hopefully I won't stall anyone's computer out.

http/smg.photobucket.com/albums/v153/jad...nt=DSC03693.jpg
http/smg.photobucket.com/albums/v153/jad...nt=DSC03699.jpg

http/smg.photobucket.com/albums/v153/jad...nt=DSC03689.jpg
http/smg.photobucket.com/albums/v153/jad...nt=DSC03687.jpg

 

[glolite]

Hi there. Sounds to me like you are doing everything right. Could be just natural loss. The only other thing I can think of is internal parascites. Personally, I do 25% weekly water changes and I think I'd maybe try that for a few weeks and maybe then treat with meds for parascites. Hope you get some more input from other members as your pics are helpful.

Me thinks we need Wilder but maybe she's on hols?

 

[WILDER]

I would issolate and try a bacterial med.
Red veining can be septicemia.
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

As far as I'm aware, the feces look normal - maybe a tad bit stringy?

Thanks, Glolite. I keep thinking that could be it too, but do you know what medicines I'd use for that? None of the shops seem to carry anything labeled for internal parasites. At one point we were doing larger water changes like that frequently, but it didn't seem to help and we got lazy. ^^" We can start that again.

I know Melafix tends to be on the mild side, but the tank HAS been treated with it with no noticeable effects. What other bacterial med would you recommend, Wilder?

Also just wanted to mention (I realized I left it out in the OP) that the betta has a slightly bent spine, and that the rosy barb we lost did as well, if that's helpful.

 

[glolite]

Perhaps if you can't get meds for internal parascites try eSHa 2000. It's a good all round bacterial, fungus, finrot and a few parascites treatment and only have to treat for three days. Well worth a try.

 

[Forestpisces]

Sounds like fish TB or internal parasites if there spines are bending, i'd be tempted to say internal parasites because of the lumps.

I think you can get some good meds online for internal parasites.

 

[WILDER]

So no signs of being skinny, sunken in bellies, bent spines, being bloated.
Just showing signs of lumps, is this correct.

Signs of internal parasites are.
Long stringy white poo, or clear mucas poo.
Emlarged anus, or red inflamed anus.
Fish will look skinny, bloated, or stomach area sunken in.
Bent spine sometimes.
Fish will somtimes swim on there sides.
Worms prutruding from the anus.

 

[MoonstruckMuse]

Glolite - I'll look into that med, thanks!

And yeah, I suspect internal parasites as well. No signs of much of anything asides from the strange physical appearance of the lumps. The betta looks like she could have an inflamed anus, but it's hard to tell... most of her belly has always been pinkish because of her color. She has been recently doing the long stringy white poos though.

I'll hit up the shops again tomorrow, and if nothing turns up, I'll be ordering some internal parasite meds online. Thanks all.

 

[WILDER]

Red inflamed anus can be dropsy to internal parasites.