Sm Bump On Flamehawk-What To Do?

fio1022

New member
I can't seem to get a reply in the fish disease forum,so I'll try it here.

I'm trying find out what is going on with my Flame Hawk.
I've had him for over a year and he is quite healthy looking.Just recently I've noticed a small bump developing on his body,About the size of a small bead.He doesn't seem affected by it but was wondering if there is anything I can or should do.
Tried to get a good picture of him but he's just too fast.This is the best one I could get.
thanks.
500th post...:D

Picture_2235.jpg
 
Hard to tell from the picture..... two possibilities come to mind:

1) He whacked himself on a coral and this is the tissue healing/healed. As long as the spot stays the same size, doesn't discolor and the tisue surrounding the bump is normal; leave him alone. You'll have a healthy hawk with a bump on his side.

2) Could be a parasitic copepod. Again, hard to tell from the picture. Usually fish come in this way and typically don't aquire them after they've been in your tank for a while. Look closely at the bump, does it have antenae or a carapace? If so, take him out (fish trap, net with food, large syphon hose) and treat him in a hospital tank. Sometimes the parasite can be removed using a dip, or removed using a topical agent or they can be removed using forceps. If going the forceps route, make sure to use a good topical antibiotic on the site and keep the hawk in a quarantine till it heals.

I'd say he looks like a pretty happy Flame Hawk.

-Rob
 
The good news is they are such aggressive feeders that they're REALLY easy to trap. When I had to remove my fish, he was the first into my baited trap, I think it took all of maybe 30 seconds!

jds
 
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