Pimples Festering And Popping On Silver Cat Fish

[The Alchemist]

I have 4 of the Silver Shark Cat Fish. And about a week ago, I noticed what seemed to be a pimple growing on one of the fish.

Then every day it started to get worse, more and more started to fester around the original one, and the orinigal one popped and now its an open red soare.

I have 2 angles, 4 silver tipped catfish, 1 dotted cat fish, 1 gold gouriame, 2 molleys, and 1 tin barb.

I dont want to do it, but I may have to put this fish down. I cant have it getting the other fish sick.

Recently I had to put down one of the smaller grouamis I had a few days ago. He hadnt been doing so good either. I would find im laying on the floor one day, than fine the next, or floating side ways and fine the next day. This went on for months, I new something was wrong with him, but one day out of no where, he lost all his color, and had fin rot. It was his time.

I really dont want to have to do this to the silver tip. He is about 6 months old now. I cant seem to find anything anywhere online to help me diagnose this.

Hard to get a side view shot

It starts off small

But grows really quick, and it is seeming to grow on his body in a line.

At first I thought he might of smashed himself on the side of something or been attacked, but it seems to be some sort of infection.

 

[Baccus]

Could one of the other fish have started it off as a bite and then infection has set into the wound? Sometimes these larger catfish can even accidentially spike each other if startled by sudden light changes, movement around the tank or crammed position.

From my understanding silver shark catfish can handle a bit of salt, as can mollies, while angelfish and gouramis can not tolerate salts, so I am wondering if you know the hardness of your water, or if you may have been adding aquarium salts to the tank?

Could you please let us know how large your tank is dimesions as well as Gallons (US or UK) and or litres it holds. Also how long the tank has been set up with the current inhabitants and was it cycled before adding the fish. Any water stats that you have such as hardness etc will also help us to diagnose what could be wrong with your catfish.

In the mean time, if possible you could segregate the catfish with the wound and treat it in a hospital tank with saltwater. If not you could give it saltwater baths in a bucket to prevent adding salts to the tank. But these baths could be more stressful from having to chase the fish about each time to catch it. Also the sudden pH changes between the normal tank and the salt bath could cause even more stress on the fish.

 

[The Alchemist]

Tank has been set up for almost a year with current staff.

Its a fresh water tank 55gals. Regular water changes of atleast 10 gals a week minimum. Usally done 2 times a week. I do use aquarium salt. When I bought my silvers I didnt know that they really should have brackish water, store that sold them didnt bother with telling me that. But they seem just fine.

The oldest 2 I have are about 8 inches long. They are healthy and strong. All the other fish are a nice vibrant color and all take regular feedings on usally once a day, maybe 2 times. Water quailty is fine, as I mentioned before.
I had been doing a good amount of reading waiting for a reply, and the soars from what I read are red and infected. I dont have an emergency tank to swap the fish into.

Since the lesions are steadly getting worse and worse, I believe I will be putting the fish down(very saddening)). It started about 2 weeks ago. I am moving in a week as well, and I dont know how many fish are going to survive the move. I am not looking forward to that.

Since I have started this tank I have only lost a few fish. A couple of the smaller ones have vanished, we suspect they became a snack for the bigger ones. We did lose one pictus months ago, but thats because I think it was just to stressed out. But tank is in pretty good standing.