Personal Observation / General Write-up: about my biggest Indo Dat, that got sick.
I have a 90G tank with regular dimensions (48"x 18"x 24") that contained at this time ....for fish.
6 Indo Datnoids (2"+)
6 Geo Tapajos red heads (2")
2 Geo undetermined (2")
1 Algae eater red sucker (5")
1 Pleco (6")
-I do weekly water changes, that fluctuate from 20%-33%.
-I have an AC110 and a Cascade 1200 on this tank for filtration. Cleaned weekly.
-The diet of all of these fish consist of (Bloodworms, Diced up earthworms, tetra crisps, Flakes, small cichlid pellets, brine shrimp, sliced fish flesh) that varies during the week.
I have sand for a substrate, with an air bubble wand, small powerhead, some rocks, some fake plants, and some sunken ships that my datnoids hide in.
One of my Datnoids, the biggest one of them all, is the most skid dish. He would never come out unless it was to eat, and retreat immediatly back to the safety of his shelter. Also if any other Dats tried to get in his shelter, they will be chased out.
Well one day, i was looking at my fish tank and noticed that my precious big Datnoid had a unicorn shaped lump. I had no idea what it was, so i just watched the fish, without trying to stress him out anymore... I then added Salt to the tank, and bumped up my temperature from 83ish degrees to 86ish degrees, in hopes to reducing the ill effects my Datnoid was showing. I waited for about a week(because i am only home for the weekends), and noticed that the fish was not getting any better, and in fact was getting worse. I transferred this fish to a 20G, with a flower pot, and some gravel. I immediately treated him with a small amount of salt, bumped up the temp to 85ish, and then added a dose of melafix. The datnoid, showed promising signs of eating small diced up earthworms, and making an attempt to go after bloodworms hovering in the water columns. So i needed to go back to school for another week, and when i came home, the fish looked worse then ever. his skin was deteriorating, his small unicorn shaped lump turned into a longer super lump, and the color went from a pinkish grey hue to a white color. The white was really bad looking, and i realized all the white was dead skin. Soon after that i noticed his mouth was falling off of his face, and he had a hole completely through one side of his face to the other. The fish was very lethargic and would only hover near the filter intake or in his clay pot. The datnoid went from being my biggest and most prized indo, into an ugly beast. I wanted to save him, but he stopped eating, and barely moved anymore.
The next day i looked into his 20G hospital, and noticed he was laying on his side in his clay pot. This disease/parasite had over taken his body, and legit ate all the skin off of the infected areas. Also the infected areas spread a very rapid rate.
It was very dissapointing to see my favorite Indo die, but i did my best to help him, to no avail. Now he is at peace, and doesnt hurt anymore.
The point i am trying to make is.... I apparently noticed this "unicorn lump" too late, and I am trying to inform you about this, so you can stay on top of the conditioning of your fish, especially your Datnoids. Your only hope if your fish contracts this parasite/disease, is to catch the signs early enough you can treat it. So watch your fish more closely and inspect them for anything that does not look normal.
Here are some pics of the progression of the spreading parasite / disease.
The last 2 pics are when i noticed the unicorn lump...
The First 4 pics are within 2 weeks after i noticed, up until he died.
I have a 90G tank with regular dimensions (48"x 18"x 24") that contained at this time ....for fish.
6 Indo Datnoids (2"+)
6 Geo Tapajos red heads (2")
2 Geo undetermined (2")
1 Algae eater red sucker (5")
1 Pleco (6")
-I do weekly water changes, that fluctuate from 20%-33%.
-I have an AC110 and a Cascade 1200 on this tank for filtration. Cleaned weekly.
-The diet of all of these fish consist of (Bloodworms, Diced up earthworms, tetra crisps, Flakes, small cichlid pellets, brine shrimp, sliced fish flesh) that varies during the week.
I have sand for a substrate, with an air bubble wand, small powerhead, some rocks, some fake plants, and some sunken ships that my datnoids hide in.
One of my Datnoids, the biggest one of them all, is the most skid dish. He would never come out unless it was to eat, and retreat immediatly back to the safety of his shelter. Also if any other Dats tried to get in his shelter, they will be chased out.
Well one day, i was looking at my fish tank and noticed that my precious big Datnoid had a unicorn shaped lump. I had no idea what it was, so i just watched the fish, without trying to stress him out anymore... I then added Salt to the tank, and bumped up my temperature from 83ish degrees to 86ish degrees, in hopes to reducing the ill effects my Datnoid was showing. I waited for about a week(because i am only home for the weekends), and noticed that the fish was not getting any better, and in fact was getting worse. I transferred this fish to a 20G, with a flower pot, and some gravel. I immediately treated him with a small amount of salt, bumped up the temp to 85ish, and then added a dose of melafix. The datnoid, showed promising signs of eating small diced up earthworms, and making an attempt to go after bloodworms hovering in the water columns. So i needed to go back to school for another week, and when i came home, the fish looked worse then ever. his skin was deteriorating, his small unicorn shaped lump turned into a longer super lump, and the color went from a pinkish grey hue to a white color. The white was really bad looking, and i realized all the white was dead skin. Soon after that i noticed his mouth was falling off of his face, and he had a hole completely through one side of his face to the other. The fish was very lethargic and would only hover near the filter intake or in his clay pot. The datnoid went from being my biggest and most prized indo, into an ugly beast. I wanted to save him, but he stopped eating, and barely moved anymore.
The next day i looked into his 20G hospital, and noticed he was laying on his side in his clay pot. This disease/parasite had over taken his body, and legit ate all the skin off of the infected areas. Also the infected areas spread a very rapid rate.
It was very dissapointing to see my favorite Indo die, but i did my best to help him, to no avail. Now he is at peace, and doesnt hurt anymore.
The point i am trying to make is.... I apparently noticed this "unicorn lump" too late, and I am trying to inform you about this, so you can stay on top of the conditioning of your fish, especially your Datnoids. Your only hope if your fish contracts this parasite/disease, is to catch the signs early enough you can treat it. So watch your fish more closely and inspect them for anything that does not look normal.
Here are some pics of the progression of the spreading parasite / disease.
The last 2 pics are when i noticed the unicorn lump...
The First 4 pics are within 2 weeks after i noticed, up until he died.
