wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
That is so gross..Is she still eating and swimming around like nothing happened?
Clownfish HOLE in stomach??
- Thread starter kewwlkat123
- Start date
kewwlkat123
Premium Member
She seems to be doing okay...swimming as if nothing happened. I haven't tried feeding yet and will do so tonight. I'm hoping it will heal but I'm assuming this is too large of a wound to recuperate from. Time will tell though.
At first I didn't think it was that gross until I had to touch it and it was slimy yet with a hard core. And then I don't know why, but I smelt it. I was thinking maybe it would have a distinct smell that may indicate what it could be. I didn't smell anything out of the ordinary though. I did feel sick to my stomach and was not longer hungry though.
It's not an alien but who knows what it could be for sure. It kind of looks like a walnut or brain.
Thanks for the help and comments everyone. I'll keep you posted on her status and let me know if anyone has anymore info.
At first I didn't think it was that gross until I had to touch it and it was slimy yet with a hard core. And then I don't know why, but I smelt it. I was thinking maybe it would have a distinct smell that may indicate what it could be. I didn't smell anything out of the ordinary though. I did feel sick to my stomach and was not longer hungry though.
It's not an alien but who knows what it could be for sure. It kind of looks like a walnut or brain.
Thanks for the help and comments everyone. I'll keep you posted on her status and let me know if anyone has anymore info.
Last edited:
kewwlkat123
Premium Member
Interesting theory. I have no idea. I think a scientist or biology major with some experience dissecting fish would need to chime in to confirm that.
tufacody,
+1 That's exactly what I thought. I have removed egg masses from other female fish that did the same thing - broke right through the body wall. It is almost like the egg mass had turned to amber. The only problem is that the masses that I've seen before had all been a bit further back on the fish's body, but not all that much. Everything else is nearly identical, down to the way the lesion first starts up. Perhaps in this clownfish, there was some physical reason why the egg mass was pushed forward? If it was a tumor, you'd expect to see some vascularization involved. It isn't a parasite, but it could *possibly* be a sterile abscess of some sort - did you try cutting the mass open?
Jay
ahh, I do need to add that this has always been fatal to the fish I've seen it in.
+1 That's exactly what I thought. I have removed egg masses from other female fish that did the same thing - broke right through the body wall. It is almost like the egg mass had turned to amber. The only problem is that the masses that I've seen before had all been a bit further back on the fish's body, but not all that much. Everything else is nearly identical, down to the way the lesion first starts up. Perhaps in this clownfish, there was some physical reason why the egg mass was pushed forward? If it was a tumor, you'd expect to see some vascularization involved. It isn't a parasite, but it could *possibly* be a sterile abscess of some sort - did you try cutting the mass open?
Jay
ahh, I do need to add that this has always been fatal to the fish I've seen it in.
kewwlkat123
Premium Member
I have the tumor/egg mass in a baggie just in case I needed it for further examination. Although, it is starting to dry out as I didn't put any water inside. I will cut it open when I get home. Anything in particular I'm looking for or will notice?
Thanks for chiming in with your knowledge Jay.
Thanks for chiming in with your knowledge Jay.
Look for blood vessels inside - that would indicate a tumor to me. Using a magnifying glass, look at the tissue and see if it shows any hint of eggs, or shapes of eggs stuck together. Remember that eggs start off small inside the female, so don't expect the eggs to be the size they are when they are laid. The "nose test" might tell you if the mass is a bacterial abscess or not.
I've never actually seen this in clownfish, but I have seen it in Banggai cardinalfish and Haplochromis cichlids.
Jay
I've never actually seen this in clownfish, but I have seen it in Banggai cardinalfish and Haplochromis cichlids.
Jay
magellan007
New member
I'd like to know what you find, too. Really bizarre in the worst of ways. I hope she recovers and that doesn't happen again.
magellan007
New member
any update on this??
kewwlkat123
Premium Member
Sorry about ruining your lunch. I know the feeling.
Here's the update I've been promising and you've been asking for.
She is still okay in her container. She is still eating some. The hole is closed up with the flake looking bacteria. It's not as bad as it was in the past pictures but it's starting to protrude/bulge beyond her scales.
Here's a picture of the tumor or eggs (not sure) cut in half. Chocolate brownies for anyone? :rolleye1: I didn't see anything that resembled eggs but I'm not sure what the early stage of eggs clustered together would look like. I'll have to find a magnifying glass or buy one tomorrow. Maybe one of you will recognize something I do not.
Here's the update I've been promising and you've been asking for.
She is still okay in her container. She is still eating some. The hole is closed up with the flake looking bacteria. It's not as bad as it was in the past pictures but it's starting to protrude/bulge beyond her scales.
Here's a picture of the tumor or eggs (not sure) cut in half. Chocolate brownies for anyone? :rolleye1: I didn't see anything that resembled eggs but I'm not sure what the early stage of eggs clustered together would look like. I'll have to find a magnifying glass or buy one tomorrow. Maybe one of you will recognize something I do not.
kewwlkat123
Premium Member
Unfortunately late last night she wasn't doing well. She lied on her side. Her conditions gradually got worse within 12 hours time and she has now passed.
I figured this would happen so it didn't come to a surprise.
Thanks for everyone's participation and help diagnosing. If you have any other information you are still welcome to reply.
-Tyson
I figured this would happen so it didn't come to a surprise.
Thanks for everyone's participation and help diagnosing. If you have any other information you are still welcome to reply.
-Tyson
ChrisKirkland
Reef and Coral Fanatic
Not eggs for sure it looks to be some type of tumor. I have never seen the egg mass get so close to her stomach. Really could have been a birth defect all along and it just showed it's self now. Because the clowns eggs are general held and made towards the center of the body it probably was not that. I am sorry for your loss, was she aquacultured or wild caught?
Ahhh - Sorry that the fish didn't make it.
That sure does look like an ovary filled with "amberized" eggs to me. I don't see any signs of bacterial infection, nor any blood vessels that might indicate a tumor. I do see *many* tiny dots that are probably unreleased eggs. The color seems right as well. FWIW: as far as I know, there is absolutely nothing you could have done for this fish. A veterinarian might have adminstered an injection of oxytocin to help the fish to try to expell the eggs - but while that may work with mammals, it has no real history of working with fish.
Jay
That sure does look like an ovary filled with "amberized" eggs to me. I don't see any signs of bacterial infection, nor any blood vessels that might indicate a tumor. I do see *many* tiny dots that are probably unreleased eggs. The color seems right as well. FWIW: as far as I know, there is absolutely nothing you could have done for this fish. A veterinarian might have adminstered an injection of oxytocin to help the fish to try to expell the eggs - but while that may work with mammals, it has no real history of working with fish.
Jay
