weird bumps on motoro

[the_deeb]

I picked up a new 6" motoro last week. He's got a cluster of weird bumps growing on his right side. These don't look like denticles that I've seen on rays in the past. Each one is about 2mm long and raised by about 1mm. They're dark and sort of bean shaped. Another way to describe them is that they look like little drops of dark fluid running down it's back. I've attached a pic - it's really blurry but it's the best I can do at this time. Any ideas?

I'm also worried that he may have some sort of internal parasite. He was at the store for almost 3 months before I bought him was I wan't too concerned initially. He's got a decent appetite but has been losing weight despite eating about 30 Hikari sinking carnivore pellets a day. He's skinny enough that I'm starting to worry now. Suggestions?

 

[anythingfish.com]

It is very hard to see in the pic, Most likely argulus, but I need to see a better pic. I would give him some earthworms to fatten him up. Rays cannot over eat & should be fed a ton espically when you first get them so the can fatten up.....

 

[anythingfish.com]

Do the spots move or have their position moved?

 

[the_deeb]

I'm pretty sure they aren't argulus - I's seen those on fish before. These aren't transparent and you can't make out eyes or any other features. They're opaque and dark and look more like they're growing out of the fish itself. I don't think they've moved.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Have the bumps grown at all in size?

Still losing weight even thou its eating...ummm....keep a close eye on that!!!

Like anything said, fatten that guy up with some worms!!!

 

[anythingfish.com]

Please see if you can get beter pics so it can help everyone determine what it is.

 

[the_deeb]

Ok, the feeding issue is becoming more and more problematic. When I first got him he was taking hikari carnivore sticks from my hand within 1 day of being in the tank. He was willing to try a variety of foods but the problem was he would only eat a little and then start to spit it out.

The problem is that his appetite seems to be steadily decreasing. He now eats 2 or 3 carnivore sticks before starting to spit them out. He's also getting more fussy. He was previously tasting shrimp and nightcrawlers - he's now ignoring both. I'm currently giving him blackworms, but again, he only eats a few before he starts just swimming over them.

He's also gotten a lot more skittish. Last week he was excitedly chasing my hand and now he's started fleeing if I get to close.

I can't get him to eat enough to get a noticeable hump and he's getting thinner and thinner - he now has a clearly defined dent between his eyes. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

He's in a custom 100g wide tank that's overfilted with 2 canisters and a W/D. Water quality is good - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites. I do 50% water changes once or twice a week.

 

[anythingfish.com]

Ok, the feeding issue is becoming more and more problematic. When I first got him he was taking hikari carnivore sticks from my hand within 1 day of being in the tank. He was willing to try a variety of foods but the problem was he would only eat a little and then start to spit it out.

The problem is that his appetite seems to be steadily decreasing. He now eats 2 or 3 carnivore sticks before starting to spit them out. He's also getting more fussy. He was previously tasting shrimp and nightcrawlers - he's now ignoring both. I'm currently giving him blackworms, but again, he only eats a few before he starts just swimming over them.

He's also gotten a lot more skittish. Last week he was excitedly chasing my hand and now he's started fleeing if I get to close.

I can't get him to eat enough to get a noticeable hump and he's getting thinner and thinner - he now has a clearly defined dent between his eyes. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

He's in a custom 100g wide tank that's overfilted with 2 canisters and a W/D. Water quality is good - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites. I do 50% water changes once or twice a week.

are there any other fish that could be picking on him? Can you get any better pics?

 

[anythingfish.com]

what do you mean getting fuzzy?

 

[the_deeb]

I'm not sure if the bumps are related to his appetite. I'm working on better pics. I'm wondering if they could be some sort of papiloma growth - anyone ever heard of this before? I feel like I've seen something like this before but I can't remember where.

His tankmates are 5 4" clown loaches, a 4" lima shovelnose and a 5" Hemisorubim platyrhyncus (spotted shovelnose). I've been watching the tank like a hawk for the past few days and haven't noticed any aggression from tankmates. Also haven't seen any signs of injury.

what do you mean getting fuzzy?

I meant he was getting more fussy with regards to food - as in more picky about what he's willing to eat.