Bimac anthias has lump on head

[ca1ore]

Very strange. Bimac anthias in QT for two months now has started to develop a lump on the top of his head, sort of where his neck would be, if fish had necks. At the moment it looks like a hematoma or bruise of some kind under the skin that is causing the swelling. Fish eats and swims fine and is showing no songs of labored breathing. It has been attacking its reflection in one particular spot on the tank for a few days - curious because only for the last few days and always exactly the same spot in the tank.

Tried to take a picture, but the fish is too fast and it's completely blurred. Any suggestions on what this lump might be? And and treatments? I've resumed NGP for now.

 

[ca1ore]

No opinions? Lack of a picture doesn't help I guess. Swelling has gone down, but still a pretty significant 'hematoma' visible under the skin. Fish has stopped attacking it's reflection. I'm inclined to think it is a self inflicted injury. NGP doing it's usual wonders. I'm not going to say I'm optimistic as that is literally the kiss of death for fish for me ....even if I am!

 

[HumbleFish]

No opinions? Lack of a picture doesn't help I guess.

Yeah, I would need a pic to even take a stab at it.

 

[ca1ore]

Indeed .....



Best I could do, still hard to tell, and it looks much more 'red' in person.

 

[HumbleFish]

Could be a tumor (which there is nothing you can really do about). Or like you said, just a bruise.

Hemorrhagic septicemia is the only "disease" possibility that readily comes to mind. The problem is it can be either a virus or bacterial. The virus variant I don't think there is anything you can do about; but continuing with the NGP should help if it's bacterial.

 

[ca1ore]

Yep, rather where I am too! Thanks. Good news is lump actually looks quite a bit better .. though often 'looking better' is simply a prelude to finding a floater

 

[ca1ore]

FWIW, fish has completely recovered. I ended up having to put a piece of eggcrate on the outside of the tank to prevent her from attacking her reflection (I assume that is what she was doing), and the bruise/hematoma has gone away. Fish never lost her appetite, which is sizeable, so that was obviously a good sign.