There's Something Wrong With Mr. Silver

[barb-e]

I' ve had Mr. Silver for over a year now. I was sitting in my room a few minutes ago and I just happened to look over at him while he was swimming by. And I saw this big bump on his side. It looks like if someone had swallowed something big. It's round and his scales are like bumped out. What could be wrong with him. I cant get a good pic because he wont really turn that side to me. Could someone help me out. I couldnt stand if anything bad happened to him.

 

[ReMz]

sounds like dropsy.... if you look at him from above, does it appear his scales are pineconing (sticking out)?

Unfortunately if this is dropsy, it is almost always fatal. You can try treating it by doing several things:
-Do a substantial water change
-Raise the temp slightly (82 degrees) if using a heater. (if you are not using a heater, that could be part of the cause)
-Add an appropriate amount of aquarium salt

And most important:
-Treat with Maracyn 1 and Maracyn 2 in conjunction. This is an internal and external bacteria infection treatment. That is really the best chance you have. If you cannot find Maracyn, try to find Tetracycline.

Once the body starts to bulge substantially, the chances of it being treated successfully are very slim. Although, the faster you start treatment, the better chance he has.

There is a possibility he is just bloated from constipation, but from your description, it doesn't sound like it. It would not hurt to fast him for a day and try to feed him a cooked pea just to make sure.

 

[ibbledibble]

sounds like dropsy.... if you look at him from above, does it appear his scales are pineconing (sticking out)?

Unfortunately if this is dropsy, it is almost always fatal. You can try treating it by doing several things:
-Do a substantial water change
-Raise the temp slightly (82 degrees) if using a heater. (if you are not using a heater, that could be part of the cause)
-Add an appropriate amount of aquarium salt

i agree with most of what ReMz has already said, but... not aquarium salt. dropsy is caused by water retention (either due to bacterial infection, or kidney failure) and ordinary aquarium salt will only make it harder for the fish to regulate its water levels. what you need to use are epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) i cant remember the exact dosage at the moment, but if you do a search on here for epsom salts, i'm sure it will turn up.

fingers crossed its bacterial, because if so, then treating with Maracyn or Tetracycline as ReMz suggested could cure him.

Edit: general consensus for epsom salt dosage seems to be 1 Tbsp per gal for baths or add 1Tsp per gal into the tank.

 

[ReMz]

sounds like dropsy.... if you look at him from above, does it appear his scales are pineconing (sticking out)?

Unfortunately if this is dropsy, it is almost always fatal. You can try treating it by doing several things:
-Do a substantial water change
-Raise the temp slightly (82 degrees) if using a heater. (if you are not using a heater, that could be part of the cause)
-Add an appropriate amount of aquarium salt

i agree with most of what ReMz has already said, but... not aquarium salt. dropsy is caused by water retention (either due to bacterial infection, or kidney failure) and ordinary aquarium salt will only make it harder for the fish to regulate its water levels. what you need to use are epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) i cant remember the exact dosage at the moment, but if you do a search on here for epsom salts, i'm sure it will turn up.

fingers crossed its bacterial, because if so, then treating with Maracyn or Tetracycline as ReMz suggested could cure him.

Edit: general consensus for epsom salt dosage seems to be 1 Tbsp per gal for baths or add 1Tsp per gal into the tank.

thx for the correction

 

[ibbledibble]

no probs, we are all trying to help

 

[newfishy]

getting a pic of it for us would help, it sounds like dropsy, and the guys already gave good advice on that. it could also remotely be a tumor, but those are fairly slow growing and you might have noticed it growing larger.

 

[blaxicanlatino]

he could even possibly be a toumor... but it sounds more like dropsy