Hi Andy!
AH: ... i'm back again after grieving from the death of my 10 year RTC.
TBTB: Yeah, my deep sympathies. I've lost about 14 over the years, including seven 1.5'-2.5'-ers. By far and large, I have never had a more problematic fish amongst other literally 100 kinds. At one point, I kept about 500 fish, mostly cats, and all the other fish I lost taken together are smaller than this number. It is not normal though - every one else I know is saying that RTCs are tough as nails... so I am a singled out sad experience. I don't believe in curses but it sure appears like one
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=34778&hilit=+digest
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=29712&hilit=+gill
AH: I'm now taking care of my 2 year old RTC which is more than 1 foot long now.
TBTB: a bit small for its age... not that it is important to your question.
AH: Looks like there is a little problem underneath the right part of its gill as you can see there is a small red spot. I wonder if any of you guys know if this thing is dangerous and how do you cure or get rid of it?
TBTB: does not look like nothing to worry about. If it has been there a while I'd propose a simple cure to try.
AH: Don't get worried of the tank size since i just put it there to take a clear picture of its red spot it lives in a 500 gallon pond with a few koi tank mates. Ammonia is kept to a minimum (0.25ppm) and Ph(7.0),
TBTB: 0.25 ppm is not really a minimum. Experience of many and mine too shows it is perfectly doable to attain 0 ppm reading on the liquid high-quality tests, like API. Of course, it is never 0 ppm but on that (not fine enough to get better resolution; and there is no need to) scale, it looks yellow = 0 ppm without a hint of greenish tint, which is 0.25 ppm.
AH: just so you guys know, that red spot has been there for a long time and i thought it would just go away eventually but as my RTC grew that red spot also grew along with it but so far nothing strange is going on since it still has its appetite and swims around normally.
TBTB: ok, it sounds much better. It says that your RTC's immune system keeps it in check. It looks like a sore or a kind of a pimple or an embedded parasite. It could also be a growth/mole that he constantly rubs on the substrate/bottom and constantly abrases the skin. You say appetite is good but the tummy is strongly sunken. Is it a deformity or has it not eaten in a while? BTW, I don't know if it's normal, but the yellow uneven colorations where RTCs usually have pure white may be indicative of something. I've seen RTCs with such white and yellow colors but I've never known if it was a norm or not.
AH: Hope you guys can help me out, i don't wanna also lose this guys too if this red spot is dangerous.
TBTB: If it was my fish, I'd try catching it, letting it flap a bit until it is exhausted and calmer and then I'd take a swab and apply a strong topical antiseptic to the wound, the kind that works in seconds, like hydrogen peroxide, a solution of iodine (for human topical medicinal purposes), or, my favorite, a solution of potassium permanganate KMnO4 (for human topical medicinal purposes or very easily prepared by yourself). Apply for, say, 30 sec, give or take. Then let the fish back in the water immediately.
At the same time, if possible, I'd take a peek at the fish's gills, in part because of the proximity of the sore. The gills should be of vibrant, bright red or dark pink color, free from slime or any other irregularities or obvious parasitic sites.
The procedure can be repeated every other day several more times, if needed, if the sore does not improve visibly. If it does not go away after that, it could be something more serious, unless the mole hypothesis is right.
RTCs are indeed tough and this, albeit highly stressful, procedure will not hurt an otherwise healthy RTC.
Good luck, Andy!
Viktor
