Performing Surgery On A Fish....

[JMcQueen]

Okay, one of my Blackmoors has developed a 'growth' on its tail approximately 3mm in diameter. I'm not sure how long its had it but I only noticed it recently. It doesnt seem to be affecting the fish and if it doesnt get any bigger I'm happy to leave it be but I'm conscious it may be cancerous at that at some point soon I may have to cut it off. 
 
Having looked on the web there's general guidance on using clove oil to anaesthetise the fish before using a scalpel to cut the growth off. However, what I cant find is how much clove oil to use per fish size and also what to use to close the wound to prevent the fish from bleeding out. Looking at the growth it has red spots in it which leads me to believe there may be a blood flow going to it.  

 

[TwoTankAmin]

http/www.research.psu.edu/arp/anesthesia/fish-anesthesia
 
http/www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CFcQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Femc.ncsu.edu%2Ffaculty%2Fpeople%2Flewbart_greg%2Fdoc%2FEugenol-MS-222%252520Sladky.pdf&ei=bEvbUcLQHZTI4AOt2YGoDA&usg=AFQjCNGBAruvvEH_FhX0MJN5NcNwOTZPnQ&bvm=bv.48705608,d.dmg
 
https/www.pondrx.com/products/16135.html
 
I had a fast read through- the dose is the key. There is a pretty wide range depending on the fish and overdosing is an issue. But the above links should help.
 
 

 

[JMcQueen]

Thanks, thats very good reading. Do you have any suggestions for what to use to close and seal the wound? I've seen a spray on foam substance used by some people, which I assume is water resistant after after a few seconds, but not sure what it was.

 

[MBOU]

Not sure if it would work or not but their is a product aimed at pond fish called Wound Seal, its like white tippex and while a lot washed back off when fish is put back in water, a lot stays on and keeps wound protected.
 
I have used it on other fish to much the same effect...
 
http/compare.ebay.co.uk/like/140766756648?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=63

 

[TwoTankAmin]

MBOU- lets open a fish med store Or maybe the Cutyourself Surgical Supply Depot for Fish?
 
Good luck with it JM. You are much braver than I am. I can't cut things- too squeamish.

 

[JMcQueen]

Not really TwoTank. I'm not going to do it unless it grows larger or starts to affect the fish. I'm hoping that with it being on the tail and not the body it should be a lot easier than the videos of people removing growths from the body. 

 

[JMcQueen]

Unfortunately the fish didn't survive long enough for me to contemplate surgically removing the growth. From last week it virtually double in size and the fish had been unwell the last couple of days spending most of its time 'hanging' in the tank or resting on the bottom. The symptoms of death would appear to indicate oxygen depravity (it had been gasping badly last night) with the underside going from the typical black of a moor to white. It is extremely warm in the UK at the moment (by our standards) with temperatures getting into the 30's but the other fish in the tank appear to be fine and I have two filters which generate significant surface turbulence. Maybe it was a combination of the illness and the temperature. I guess we'll never know.
 
Its a shame as the fish was brilliant, about 4 years old, approximately 6 inches in body length with a great fan tail adding another 4 inches or so. 

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that

 

[CrazyDiamond88]

Aw sorry to hear that