Angry looking red lump on Senegal

[David R]

Noticed a slightly pink lump on the side of my little Senegal yesterday, today it's looking a bit bigger and much redder and nastier. The fish is still active and eating, there's four other similar sized bichirs in the tank plus a pair of kribs and an old Peckoltia. Water is good (0, 0, <10ppm), ~7.4 pH and fairly soft, 25-6C.

Is it some sort of infection, or could it be damage from the pleco? (Thinking more like a spike rather than being rasped on).

 

[phreeflow]

I personally don’t think a peckoltia would do that type of damage. It does look like a wound that’s on the verge of getting infected.

I’d keep the water pristine, clean the area with betadine, and cover it with a liquid bandage.

 

[rayoddballfish]

hmm weird. Looks like a cyst or some kind of infection, agree doesn't look like physical damage but I could be wrong. kno4te Hao

 

[David R]

hmm weird. Looks like a cyst or some kind of infection, agree doesn't look like physical damage but I could be wrong. kno4te Hao

The more I look at it the more I'm inclined to agree that it's not physical damage. It looks a little better this morning and the fish is still active and hungry so I'll just keep an eye on it.

 

[kno4te]

Looks infected. Would do maracyn2 or triple sulfa.

 

[David R]

Looks infected. Would do maracyn2 or triple sulfa.

I'd love to but neither of those are available over the counter here in NZ. I'm not sure any antibiotics are available without a prescription, but I guess I could try the vet and see if they'd give me something. Anything else worth trying?

 

[kno4te]

I'd love to but neither of those are available over the counter here in NZ. I'm not sure any antibiotics are available without a prescription, but I guess I could try the vet and see if they'd give me something. Anything else worth trying?

Didn’t realize you were in NZ. Try the vet. Otherwise can try some salt dips,methylene blue to the affected area, clean water and make sure it’s eating.

 

[phreeflow]

Not sure what’s available for fish in NZ. Worse case scenario, you can dab it with iodine or betadine and apply some polysporin on it, or a liquid bandage. These are sold for human use over the counter. A salt bath like kno4te mentioned may be enough

 

[David R]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on it and see how it goes, if it doesn't start getting better I'll look at more hands-on treatments like you mention. With all the wood and plants in the tank it'll be hard to catch it and unfortunately I don't have another free tank to put it in until Saturday.

 

[David R]

Little update, it's definitely improving, the skin has healed over and there's less red underneath it. Still eating like a pig too.