Topic: Sick convict?

[Iain Evans]

One of my cons has developed 3 little white lumps at the base of its tail, look like little warts, i've tried treating it with the usual lfs potions without success, he is eating well and as active as ever, the other fish in the tank don't have any signs of this after 2 weeks.

Any ideas anyone?

I have a spare tank to isolate him if necessary but I don't want to take him out in case he get's his ass kicked when I return him by the other angry mob in the tank.

Any advice is much appreciated, when you need any help, as always this is the best place in the wrold to find it.

[Iain Evans]

i'll do my best Gerry.

I just noticed the typo too, I did mean world* 

[Iain Evans]

Can't get the photo to compress small enough !!!

[Iain Evans]

Hope this has worked?!?!

[Iain Evans]

The picture quality isn't the best but he wouldn't keep still when I asked him to!

The lumps aren't as flat as they look, they stick out like little beads.

Thanks in advance.

[Ezekial]

I'd guess they are little parasites of some sort but i'm not the best at diagnosing.  Hopefully someone else will be in to help soon.

[Stormbringer]

are they like little cauliflower heads ?

[tracey]

Looks like Stormbringer and I are thinking along the same lines.  My first reaction is that there's a good chance its Lymphocystis, a viral infection that there is no cure for.  The lumps just look too large for any parasite that I can think of.  It is managable though, with good food and really, really good water.  If you can try and get a clearer pic, that would be great.

[Iain Evans]

I'll try for a better picture, is he ok in with the others or should I remove him?

Thanks for the help and so quick too.

[Stormbringer]

i had a carpinte that died from it  i tried myxazin sterazin protozin and melafix only thing that seemed to abate it a bit was melafix  , unnkown to me it was all over the inside of its mouth and gills  just hope its not what tracey said , mind you none of the other fish caught it
ive posted a pic you can see it at the base of dorsal and the caudal peduncle

[Maddy mad man]

Im thinking along the lines of lymphocytosis as well for which Tracey correctly says there is no cure.  It is caused by stress such as poor water, harassment, etc and will go away if stressor removed.  Always has the potential to come back.

Water change is required at 30 - 50% immediately - isolate the fish if harassment is the prob.  (You can then remove all others, change the terrain and reintroduce him first).  I would also add salt at 1 tbsp to 5G (10G if cats, plecs or scaleless fish present).

Be stringent with water quality and tank husbandry.

[Iain Evans]

Thanks everyone,
I've moved him to another tank to try to give him a break from stress of krusty the clown loach annoying him, he's the biggest of the con's in the tank and theres only the clown who harrasses him, I think the clown has a personality disorder and the con is just neurotic!
The tank i've removed him from has been running very well for some time now, no water problems and very clean, he's now got 45g of tank to himself, i'll see how he goes and may just leave him there.
I'll do another change on the main tank today, but as I said the other fish look fine.

Thanks again everyone, I hate it when the little'uns get sick.

PS.  It was my 4 year old son called it krusty the clown, the isolated con has now been named Spot ( because he's stripey! )

[Stormbringer]

do the growths look like whats on the carpinte it was a bit more advanced at that stage
and lol to naming it Spot mate hope he recovers tho

[Iain Evans]

they look more "pea" like than on the carpinte, in the fight to catch him,  2 of them have come off, he seems fine though.

[Stormbringer]

as gerry says look in the net for the bits that came out but i woyuldnt hold my breath youl find em