Strange lump on clown

[ChrisRD]

Hi Folks...wondering if anyone can help identify this...

I have had a pair of captive bred Clarkii clowns for about 4 months. Both QTed for about six weeks before adding to the DT. Two rounds of Prazipro and CP for the duration of QT. Both have been eating well and acting completely normal from day 1. As usual...one of the two grew larger and appears to be the dominant partner now. It's the larger fish that has the issue.

DT is a 65 gallon Aqueon FOWLR with a decent skimmer and about 50 pounds of Marco rock and sand (no other filtration) and some Tunzes for circulation (strong flow). Temp is a steady 77 F (heater controlled by RK lite), SG=1.024 (calibrated refractometer), pH=8.1-8.3 (monitored by RK lite..results match API and Salifert kits), NH4, NO2, NO3 all undetectable on API and Salifert kits. Tank has been up for about 10 months...ran it fallow for the first few months. Fish get fed twice a day...mix of various frozen, flake and pellet foods.

After about a month or so in the DT this fish started getting strange lumps under the skin on top of its head. The lump seemed to shift over a couple of weeks to where it is now (more to the side). Up until a few days ago it was just a large lump under the skin...it now appears something is breaking through the skin.

The other fish in the DT (all QTed in the same manner) including the other Clarkii clown of the pair appear to be in perfect health (others are Royal Gramma, C. Argi Angel and a Saddle Blenny). Only other tank inhabitants are some Mythrix crabs...a mated pair of CB shrimp and some hermits and snails. No serious fighting or aggression day to day.

I've been keeping marine fish since 1991 and this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this in one of my tanks...would like to hear from some fellow RCers that might know what this is and how I can treat it. What's coming through the skin now looks a bit like lymphocytosis to me. Thanks.

About two weeks ago...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-cAcLVtb9S4NS1zOEk2dm5fcTA

Today...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-cAcLVtb9S4UlM2a1V0aWMxMDg

 

[jam.jo]

If it is lymphocystis which it looks like it is, theres not really any proven treatments for it but you will want to separate that clownfish from the other as it is viral and do a large water change. I found a possible remedy using usnea lichen which is a sprig that you bool in water and add to the aquarium. It is on this page if you scroll all the way down to the usnea lichen section it will provide a little more detail. http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication4.html. Unless if anyone else knows of other possible remedies for lymphocystis that might be your only option. It is likely that the cyst will burst and then the clown may die from a bacterial infection at that point so I would also treat with a broad range antibiotic like furan 2 or a combination of furan 2 and kanamycin if that cyst bursts.

 

[ThRoewer]

While Lymphocystis can have purely internal cases, it is IMO rather unlikely.
This looks more like a tumor or an ulcer. It could also be an internal parasite that dug it's way out - there are some parasites that use fish as intermediate hosts. Those usually have complicated life-cycles that can't be completed in a reef tank.

I had something similar with a Orchid Dottyback and it got over it without any intervention. At times the fish had such a big hole in its side that I was surprised that it was still alive, yet the fish was acting normal as if the was nothing wrong. After a month it started healing and after two months it was gone. It's one of those cases where you may not be able to do anything but wait and see.

There are a lot more fish parasites than what we usually encounter. What we typically see are the highly infective diseases or parasites or those that can successfully reproduce in a tank. Those are the ones that can be distributed easily in holding tanks along the supply lines.
But there are far more out there that rarely make it all the way to the hobbyist. But sometimes one of those makes it through...

 

[ChrisRD]

Thanks for the responses...I appreciate the feedback.

The external "growth" seems to have almost completely receded over the past two days (just a couple of white dots now) so I'm guessing it's not lymph. It seems like the lump has shifted a bit again too. I'm going to keep an eye on her...I have a cycled hospital tank ready to go with various meds on-hand. Just not sure what the heck I'm dealing with yet...

The frustrating part is I've taken so much care to QT everything that has gone into this tank...maybe it's my imagination but it seems there are more parasites in the hobby now than ever before.

Anyway...again, I do appreciate the responses.

 

[ThRoewer]

Is the fish acting sick or is he behaving as if everything is fine?
In the latter case I would just wait and see as any changes in the environment could trigger a turn for the worse.
If the fish is acting sick it might be a good idea to isolate it.

Without knowing what is causing this all you can do is to try to boost the fish's immune system with good food and possibly mixing some immune boosting additives like beta glucan to the food.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[ChrisRD]

The fish has never really shown any distress...normal behavior and eating all along.

The protrusions through the skin are almost completely gone now and the lump in the pics has receded noticeably. There now seems to be an adjacent area developing a lump as the other one recedes. I'll try to get an updated pic.

I'll keep watching and try the immune boosting additives for now. I feel the same regarding moving the fish...isolating the fish in the med tank might lead to more stress and just worsen the condition.

Appreciate the help.