8 replies to this topic

[Flash Pleco]

Please fill out as much as possible below and give us a description of what is wrong with your fish.

Type of fish: Bristlenose catfish Ancistrus triradiatus
Symptoms: 'panting', lying upside down, listless (not showing stress colouration), strange lumps - one opaque just above pectoral fin, one bubble-like just behind the first one
Other tank mates: clown loaches, Synodontis eupterus, swordtail platy hybrids, cories, cardinal tetras, other smaller bristlenose cats
Tank size / capacity: 6'x2'x2'
Type of Food fed: Algae wafers, Willow wood wafers, Aqua-life pellets, flakes, shelled peas, frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp
Feeding frequency/amount: Daily - 2 algae wafers, 8-9 willow wood wafers, 1/4 teasp Aqua-life pellets, 1/16 teasp flakes.
Once/twice per week 5-6 shelled peas and one cube bloodworms or brine shrimp (alternate)
Substrate: Silica sand
Type of filtration: Eheim canister filter
Frequency of filter cleans: Not often enough, but water change is via filter outlet tap so partial flush.
Frequency and % volume of water changes: 1/3- 1/2 every 3-4 weeks but am changing to weekly 25%
Last water change: 2 days ago
PH: 6.6
KH: 0
GH: 60
Nitrite: 0.5
Nitrate: 40
Ammonia: Nil
Phosphate: ?
Water temp: ? 25-28 (thermometer died, buying new one this weekend)
Medications used recently to date: Only Stresscoat and Melafix
Any recent changes..new fish/filters/power outages etc etc: Latest fish added about 1 month ago - Synodontis and 2 Pictus catfish (pictus deceased due to suspected recent ammonia spike)

Photo of lumps:
 DSCF1194.JPG   1.01MB   71 downloads

[fishking123]

not looken good mate.. but iv never seen it in my fish keeping life.. maby a dose of salt but i dont think your fish can handle the salt. im sure outher people can help you.

[Flash Pleco]

Just guessing here, but could it be possible that something has spiked him, and the first lump is some intestine pushed out (like a hernia) and the second bubble-like lump part of his swim bladder that's pushed out?

If I knew what this was I'd have some idea whether to treat or euthanise. I just don't like seeing him obviously suffering.

[fishking123]

hmm maby your right? is he swimming ok now?

[Flash Pleco]

No change for most of the day.

I couldn't find 'Prime' so I bought 'Tetra Easy Balance with Nitraban' and dosed the tank to remove any residual nasties from the ammonia spike.
My test strips must be a bit aged because Petstock's test showed a higher level of nitrate than my test did. Other than that, all results seem the same.

Also bought Pimafix in case it was fungal and dosed the tank with that, and 2 minutes later had the first movement I've seen from him in a few days, but the timing could be coincidental, or a result of the nitrate fixer. He came out and sat on top of his rock until a baby platy tormented him into taking refuge back under his rock again.

The platy is trying to eat the lumps!

I think it popped the bubble one because it's suddenly about a quarter of the size it was before!

This pic is about as clear as I could get of the lump
 DSCF1208.JPG   992.05KB   41 downloads

Edited by Flash Pleco, 08 September 2012 - 07:48 PM.

[bigjohnnofish]

nice pics of the lump... bristlenose wont be in pain... and if everything else in the tank is fine just leave him be... may heal up on its own... prob something internal judging by the redness on the b/n's body... i've never seen it myself and i have had more b/n than you've had hot dinners!!! lol

[Flash Pleco]

I've lost him.

And I don't mean he died, I mean he appears to have vanished without trace!

I searched the tank with a good torch this morning before I went out, and again when I got home this afternoon, and can't for the life of me find him!

How do you lose a 10cm bristlenose??

[Flash Pleco]

He has reappeared, lumpless, and is happily eating algae off the back wall of the tank. Go figure. Part of me is saying it's one of the smaller bristlenoses as a lump that size wouldn't just vanish in 24 hours but I've seen one of the other BNs and it was a lot smaller so this must be my big guy. Doesn't help that these guys are very good at hiding.

Wonder if he had a run-in with the synodontis. Weirdest thing I've ever encountered in fish keeping.

BTW Fishking 123, there is always a bit of salt in my tank because I like my bumblebee gobies and keep my tank just a little brackish in preparation for the day I find some. I also think it helps to fight off/prevent diseases.

[Flash Pleco]

Sad news, he didn't make it after all. I fished his body out this evening.