Tetra with large growth that burst out two sides of its body. Help! Pics

6706 Views 11 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Discusluv, Jun 16, 2021

shrike37

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2017

I have a planted 29 gallon tank with neon tetras, xray tetras, cory cats, and an Amano shrimp. I have not had any fish related illnesses since I set up the tank about 9ish months ago. I haven't added any fish or plants in about 4 months. In that 4 month span I have only added water, fertilizers, fish food (including frozen blood worms) so I can't imagine that this is a newly introduced pathogen.

Approximately a week ago I noticed one xray tetra had developed a relatively large (a little larger than it's eye) light pinkish cyst/tumor above its spine near its tail. It grew daily. The tumor was oval shaped. I could only tell something was there because I could see through the fish's body as it is a x-ray tetra. Then about 2 days ago the tumor burst out of one side of its body. Yesterday it burst out the other side (the tumor actually ruptured the skin/scales of the fish. The fish appears to be able to swim normally when food is offered. However, when there isn't food, it hangs out in the back of the tank out of the current for most of the time (to seemingly avoid having to swim).

I apologize for the poor pictures.

No other fish appear to have any similar issues and the other x-ray tetras have no visible tumors inside their bodies.

What is the diagnosis? Is it infectious? Can the fish be saved?

Thank you

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Opare

· #2 · Mar 26, 2017

I would definitely seperate it from the main tank and put it into a hospital tank first. I can't help beyond that as I am not very well versed in fish illnesses.

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Anorea

· #3 · Mar 26, 2017

My betta has something that looks the exact same, and it goes away and comes back. I don't know what it is though. I'm kind of scared that it's tb, so just don't put your hand in with any cuts.
Wish i could help out more.
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Nordic

· #4 · Mar 27, 2017

Kill it please, there is no recovery from damage like that, if it is still living it is in severe pain and distress.

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someoldguy

· #5 · Mar 27, 2017

Lumps and bumps in fish are usually fatal in my experience . Considering that the thing has quickly grown to a point where it's broken through the skin in 2 places , I don't think the fish is going to last too long . If the growth doesn't kill it , a secondary infection from the break in the skin will . I'd get it out of the tank , at the least , though destroying the fish would probably be a better idea .

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klibs

· #6 · Mar 27, 2017

Nordic said:
Kill it please, there is no recovery from damage like that, if it is still living it is in severe pain and distress.

i agree with this

from what i have seen if fish have symptoms that serious they are going to RIP soon and you are best off removing it from the tank to prevent any further harm to itself and others

any fish i have tried to save with symptoms that bad has died in hospital

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evil nick

· #7 · Mar 27, 2017

I had a molly with something similar. I believe she hurt herself in the tank and the bruise/cut got infected but I didnt notice until too late. It became HUGE to the point where I separated her into a large plastic bag still in the tank so she could stay heated in the same water she was in and still see everything. I would just add water from the tank every few hours. It was a good thing because the next day whatever it was burst wide open and she passed. At least any infection or parasite that burst with it was contained in the large zip lock.

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Anorea

· #8 · Mar 31, 2017

Any news?

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Fishish

· #9 · May 25, 2021

Hi there,

Same thing happened to one of our tetras as well. Seems like there's not much info on this though. We just moved 400 miles away and every single fish and shrimp survived. But about 10 days after the move we found out the tetra in the picture has the same white cyst/tumor thing. Anyone has any other ideas except ending its life?

Thanks.

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Plinkploop

· #10 · May 25, 2021

Fishish said:
Hi there,

Same thing happened to one of our tetras as well. Seems like there's not much info on this though. We just moved 400 miles away and every single fish and shrimp survived. But about 10 days after the move we found out the tetra in the picture has the same white cyst/tumor thing. Anyone has any other ideas except ending its life?

Thanks.

View attachment 1029888

Might be neon tetra disease. I hope it's not, but if it is it's not curable. You can sometimes keep it from showing up for a while by taking meticulous care of your tank. I have a single cardinal left in a qt tank that has it. I lost 4 over the course of a month and a half. This one keeps hanging in there (3 months now I think).

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Fishish

· #11 · Jun 15, 2021

Thanks for sharing! Update: the tera that got sick seems to be doing fine so far but the cyst has transferred to a different spot near her fin. Will be keeping an eye on all 12 tetras.

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