Lumpy Fungus

Hi all,

Got some more black phantoms and ottos yesterday and noticed today that two pf the phantoms have what looks like cauliflower lumps on their tails, in fact one of them looks like she has lost a chunk of tail too. I'm guessing that the fungus was an underlying infection that has come out due to stress of moving to new tank.  I've treated with Esha 2000 and will see what happens!!

I've removed my snails as Esha kills them but was wondering if it is safe to put them in my other tank or if they could be carrying the disease?

Happy New Year!!!

FC76

I think it may be lymphocystis. I've only managed to get one half decent picture as the fish are still easily scared by too much activity around the tank.

Don't know if you can tell from this or not?

FC76

All the new fish are in my quarantine tank so I'll keep treating with Esha for the three days as according to instructions and if no improvement I'll begin daily water changes. I assume that if it is lymphocystis it will continue to get and worse and then it will get to a point that the fish will need euthanising???

I shall let the fish shop know also.

FC76

Morning!

Quick update!

Lumps have started to decrease in size and fish bright and active, so looking good!!!!! 

FC76

Hi gang,

Frustration reigns in the fishcake house!!!!   

My ottos have both died but this is not related to the current frustration or the lumpy fungus issue! Just the sensitive nature of ottos I think. Bit of a bummer tho as they are not cheap!!!!

The frustration is caused by the phantoms. All three still alive and seemingly quite happy apart from still having lumps. On further investigation and lots of time spent peering at them through a magnifying glass I have reached the conclusion that they must have lymphocystis as originally feared. 

I cannot get a decent picture of the lumps and believe me I've tried!!!! But I have attached this pic to show where the growths are/were and also to show the damage to the smallest phantoms tail. The bigger phantom is the one who still has lumps. The smaller one has a very small amount of swelling where the lumps were but no actual lumps.

They have now received a six day course of Esha 200 but no further improvement in size or appearance of lumps, I am trying to decide what to do with them. Most sources of info say that it takes at least 4 months to be completely clear of lumps and therefore infection but that there is no guarantee that the fish will not remain carriers of the virus or redevelop it.

I really do not want to risk putting them in my community tank, even if I do get them clear of lumps. I'm torn between euthanising them and putting it down to experience or taking them back to the shop and asking for a refund (where they will probably be euthanised anyway).

I'm also not convinced that I will want any more phantoms from the MA where got them from as all fish in that 'batch' I assume may well be infected??!

What do people suggest I do???

FC76

Thanks for that Richard. I'll let you know what happens.

Do yo think it will be necessary for me to replace my filter media as I am assuming the virus could survive in there??

FC76

Hi there,

Well two remaining fish have now been returned to shop and I have been given a credit note, which is fine.

The smaller fish that I was worried about yesterday was again struggling to keep her tail down today. The fish shop were very understanding and I took them the dead fish (wished I left her lumps attached tho!!) as well as the alive two.  I showed them a photo of the lumps (see above post) but needn't have worried as when we looked in the shop tank there were about five other phantoms with lumps, so I was secretly quite pleased!! 

They marked the whole tank as not for sale so hopefully they can sort them out, or at least prevent other people having the same issues, if not worse.  Thank God I had a quarantine tank!!!!

Anyway, alls well that ends well and I've got my bath full of my aquarium equipment soaking in bleach ( and water!)

FC76