What is Wrong with This Dinosaur Eel?

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daphne

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 27, 2010
7
0
0
Colorado
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I have had this eel for over two years in a very stable 75 gallon tank which has had no new additions for at least a year. About three months ago, a hump started to appear on his back and has progressed to a very large hump and what looks like "guts" sticking out the other side. I keep expecting him to die, but he eats and behaves normally. He just looks horrible! Please see pictures.

Does anyone have any ideas what is wrong? Is there anything I can do to help the little guy?

Thank you for your help!
Daphne

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It looks like a tumor of sorts.

+1

Also you may want to post this in the bichir section.... I may be wrong but this fish isn't technically an eel. But this seems pretty urgent so I would have a mod move this to the general aquarium section.... you'll get answers a lot faster. Happy new Year and welcome to MFK.
 
That is what I thought, too. He does not seem in distress, so I have not seriously thought of putting him "out of misery."

Thank you for your response.
 
Try and turn up the temperature and add aquarium salt. When my pbass was bit by my gar it greatly increased his recovery time... feed him a little more also maybe with something meaty like silver sides or shrimp.
 
Since it is still the holiday season it might be quicker to just place a new thread in the bichir section.

The fish appears to have been bitten by another fish and the wound seems infected. Best to move the fish out of the tank and into a quarantine tank where the open wound will not be attacked by other fish including that pleco at night.
 
I posted the link to this thread in the General Aquaria and Polypterus forums. Thank you for your direction.

I had not considered that he had been bitten. Do you think he might make it if I quarantine? What else besides the sea salt and heat would help heal the wound?
 
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