URGENT panaque skin problem

[lotuslady]

hello everybody,
my common panaque developed a very ugly looking 'thing' on his right fin: IT LOOKS LIKE CAULIFLOWER.
it is a yellow swelling which is quite large covering his whole fin and creeping up to his body. I did not see him for a while but that is normal, he is most shy in the tank, which is very complicated in decoration so if I don't see a fish for a week it is because it is playing around in the 'forest'.
Afraid he caught something, after introducing a bristlenose who spend 4 weeks of quarantine and looked fine.

I just saw it, was shocked by the size.

i try to make pictures of him but not clear enough. Will set a trap to fish him out (he is not very big and lives in a 2.00 metre tank).
any good advice or links to websites with pictures of fish disease so I can start a treatment plan?
I will try to catch him (will take a long long day). any tips how to trap a small pleco?
and if I cannot id the disease, salt bath?

 

[IoStrisciare]

Sounds like a tumor, U can choose to operate or leave it as it is.

have come across an L25 with such a case that has lived over 5 yrs without any ill effect, but do take note that the growths may or may not grow back after surgical removal.

 

[lotuslady]

thank you so much for confirming my fears about this fish. today, he got himself stuck in a plant - the tumor was caught in a plant leaf - so I was able to catch him. The tumor was already half-loose because he was trying to wiggle free.
he was bleeding and died shortly after I caught him.