Over two months ago I noticed a strange growth behind the left pectoral fin of my male Aequidens didema. It was a lumpy grayish mass which I began to treat with Pima and Melafix along with massive water changes.
This produced no change and since I couldn't positively identify the problem I didn't want to just start throwing medicine at it. I caught him and removed the lump by hand (scraped off carefully) until there was almost nothing left. It started to grow again!
After a few more days of research I am nearly certain it was Lymphocystis, but was concerned that it had held on for so long. About a week ago a white string started to emerge from the mass, which had grown to about a centimeter in length behind the fin of the 5 and a half, 6 inch fish. The "string" never showed the slightest sign of independent movement so doesn't present as a parasite.
Still, all that I had read indicated that Lympho holds on for a while and then goes away on its own. All this time the fish has shown no signs of distress, has grown steadily, maintains his aggressive position (semi aggressive) toward the other fish, eats like a pig, defecates normally, yada, yada, yada.
This week we've had some high heat here in the area, and the room where the tank is gets pretty warm. The temps got up to 86, and as of yesterday the lump has finally disappeared. I tried to get a good enough picture to share for aid in the diagnosis, but never got one that clearly showed the lump. My question is; now what?
I will be extremely careful with the water as far as washing with soap and water after getting any on me, being extremely careful with starting the siphon for water changes, and not cross contaminating any other tanks, but is there anything else I should do for my own safety and that of the other fish in that aquarium?
This produced no change and since I couldn't positively identify the problem I didn't want to just start throwing medicine at it. I caught him and removed the lump by hand (scraped off carefully) until there was almost nothing left. It started to grow again!
After a few more days of research I am nearly certain it was Lymphocystis, but was concerned that it had held on for so long. About a week ago a white string started to emerge from the mass, which had grown to about a centimeter in length behind the fin of the 5 and a half, 6 inch fish. The "string" never showed the slightest sign of independent movement so doesn't present as a parasite.
Still, all that I had read indicated that Lympho holds on for a while and then goes away on its own. All this time the fish has shown no signs of distress, has grown steadily, maintains his aggressive position (semi aggressive) toward the other fish, eats like a pig, defecates normally, yada, yada, yada.
This week we've had some high heat here in the area, and the room where the tank is gets pretty warm. The temps got up to 86, and as of yesterday the lump has finally disappeared. I tried to get a good enough picture to share for aid in the diagnosis, but never got one that clearly showed the lump. My question is; now what?
I will be extremely careful with the water as far as washing with soap and water after getting any on me, being extremely careful with starting the siphon for water changes, and not cross contaminating any other tanks, but is there anything else I should do for my own safety and that of the other fish in that aquarium?
