How to Removing a Tumor from a Dempsey?? (W/ Pics) (Part 1)

[Rare_Cichlids]

I rescued a Dempsey from my LFS today.....

It's a nice Male Jack Dempsey, but he seems to have a tumour that is connected half to his lower body and half to his anal fin. Some one had dropped him off at the LFS...... and i could not just let him stay there and possibly die (if the tumour is cancerous?)...

I took him home....set-up a 5-gallon tank for him.... got some aquarium salt...added some bio-sphira to cycle the tank.....bough some maracyn 2.... and left him in there......

I plan to cut the tumour with a razor blade. or is there another way to do it?? anyone w/ experience on operating fish/cichlids???? also what should i use to make sure he does not bleed to death?? Iodine???? anything else that i should know before i operate???

as promised here are some pics of him. any help would be great.

 

[Piranhanut]

First of all tank him out of the tank, give him a shot of wild turkey to calm its neves and cut it off. Seriously, I would probably have some type of metal object like a spoon heated up to burn the wound shut like they did for bullets in the old west. The fish is going to die either way so i say just cut it off and see what happens. It looks like a hemroyd, has he been doing some heavy lifting?

 

[Rare_Cichlids]

well i think im going to save him!!!!!! and if i don't at least i tried. but i don't think the fish"will die either way"


does anyone else have any advice??? and can someone answer my questions.? please


thanks

 

[Piranhanut]

Sorry, couldnt help it. The only thing you can do it try. Id just cut it off and see what happens. If it disappears the odds of it comming back are going to be good or another will develop somewhere sometime soon. God has plans for eveyone and everything, some just sooner than others.

 

[kraken]

pm anythingfish; I read in an earlier thread where he had a black paco with a tumor and he had a vet take it off

 

[Piranhanut]

They probably spent around a hundred or so dollars on saving a five dollar fish. They must love that fish. I have had my jack for over 7 years now and it eats out of my hand. I would cry to see him go but hes not worth that much to me.

 

[Miles]

Sedate with Clove Oil. Search the web for 'Puffer dentistry' to find articles on how to sedate fish using Clove Oil. Make sure it's pure Clove Oil, and not Clove BUD Oil, that will kill your fish.

Cut with a clean exacto-knife. Clean with Iodine. Hopefully no bleeding will occur, as I am unsure how you would stop it with a fish. Melafix is probably a good preventative and healing aid for the wound after the surgery.

Pristine water quality (more then 5g maybe?) after the surgery, it will make a big difference in the healing process and the Jack's ability to 'pull through' after a tramatic event.

 

[cichniss]

Well i would have to say miles gave a wonder explination but if bleeding occurs apply a small amount of pressure to the wound with goss. Though i dont think much bleeding will occur as im sure the veins in the tumor are small.

 

[Piranhanut]

I catch fish in the wild all the time that hav healed from huge bite marks with body parts missing and survived. I would say cut it off and put it back in the tank. I wouldnt get too wrapped up into details on how to do it. Just use a razor blade or exacto knife. A 2 second surgury and you are done. If the fish bleeds at all I'm sure it will be very minor and only for a second.

 

[Rare_Cichlids]

ok guys thanks. i guess i will just have to try it then. but i will put some Iodine so it tops the bleeding just in case. the tank is going to have aqarium salt in it, the temp wil be around 80F, and i will add maracyn 2 to the tank.. sounds good????


thanks