fishman1 Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 Just recently I noticed that one of my oldest goldfish has started to develop a blister-like infection on his body just above his left gill. I have been treating the tank with Melafix however the condition of the fish does not appear to be improving. The skin has swollen and has gone puffy almost like a blister. The fish seems to be quite docile and tends to just lie on the bottom of the tank quite a lot. If anyone could please offer any advice to what this ailment is and possible remedies I would be most obliged. Regards, Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debs01 Posted September 20, 2005 Report Share Posted September 20, 2005 One of my goldfish did this, so check the water and do regular partial changes melafix wont hurt at all, um not sure what else to add but I am sure caryl will be along soon and she is very clever about this sort of thing. Mine had a rather large blister that they thought might have been from an injury due to the fact it was only on one side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Don't look at me debs! I know very little about diseases. I just have a disease book I look up to see if I can find matching symptoms Is it possible the blister is a result of the fish damaging itself on a sharp rock or scraped against something? If a fish damages itself in this way it is then open to secondary infections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I had a goldfish with similar symptoms. I also treated with Melafix and nothing seem to happen. I also tried a few other treatments but to no avail! Overtime his dorsil fin had a growth on it and he never seemed to extend it. He sat on the ground for weeks and weeks only swiming for food. Whatever he had eventually got him, his stomach started to get sunken in and he had difficulty swimming he hid his face under a rock and that was the end of that! I still have no idea what happened to him or what he had but would be very interested to know. I had him for approximately 5 years. Hope you find a cure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Caryl, I am not too sure if the 'blister' has come as a result of injury, however it could be a possiblity. Sometimes when I feed the fish, they whiz around totally nuts over the fact that it is dinner time and perhaps he could have bumped into a rock formation inside the tank? However another possible factor is age. He certainly is an old fish...I can't exactly remember when I got him but he must be at least 5-6 years old now. I am just keen to find out EXACTLY what his condition is so I can treat it accordingly. Regards, Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 5 or 6 is not old for a goldfish. They can live 30+ years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Oh really? Wow, I didn't know that! He's really just a young fella then! BTW I took a photo of him, just to see if anyone can shed any more light on the topic.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 That doesn't look like damage from something sharp. I have no idea what it is. Carp pox lumps are smaller, more rounded and white. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 How's your goldfish doing??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted September 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 No real change in the appearance of the condition - I have been treating with melafix once a day. Perhaps I should remove the carbon filter out of the tank so the melafix won't just get absorbed? Apart from the condition of the ulcer on his skin, he's doing great - he seems quite happy and zipping around the tank as normal foraging for food and eating normally.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 Fancy resizing that image? I left my 40" screen at my other mansion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 Yes, remove your carbon...when treating fish the carbon should always be removed or else it absorbs the medication...am I right folks??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 Well done Caper 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caserole Posted September 25, 2005 Report Share Posted September 25, 2005 It could be fish Tb, it can cause bisters like that on older goldfish. Normaly it appears on the head and looks just like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted September 25, 2005 Report Share Posted September 25, 2005 Ok.. Time to get a bit squeemish.. and I am only writing this to say what "I" would do if it were my fish.. so I take no responsibility for the outcome. The blister looks like it is not caused by external damage.. so therefore is something internal.. like a fluid of sorts. From the pic, it looks to be slightly transparent.. and possibly filled with fluid. First I would remove the fish and place in a very wet towel. Then I would make a small incision at the crown of the blister, then apply slight pressure to drain the fluid. Then I would apply raw Iodine to the small opening I made and allow a few seconds for it to dry. If you have no Iodine.. then use raw salt, but in my opinion, Iodine is better. Return the fish to a clean tank for a while. Then I would prepare a salt bath, using two heaped table spoons of Sea Salt per gallon of water. Leave the fish in this for ten mins to half an hour... then return to a clean tank.. (possibly a QT tank) I would repeat the salt baths every second day and watch for progress, or more fluid buildup. The salt can be increased to up to four table spoons over a week or ten days if needed.. but only if you see infection setting in. Use a fresh mix for each salt bath. Nothing else should be in the salt bath treatment tank.. no other meds of any sort. The fish will be fine in a wet towel if care is taken, but leaving the blister at this point will either mean it will get to a point of bursting... or.. the fluid will be forced further into the body... which it might be doing already.. but either way, you need to do something. As above... just my thoughts on what "I" would do. Needless to say... but avoid other tanks (wet hands.. implements etc).. that you have used for the sick fish. Could you reduce the size of your pic to 640x480 Take care now, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted September 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2005 Thanks Pegasus - I'm not 2 sure if I'm up for that! I wouldn't want to accidentally do more damage to the fish - I'm certainly not skilled in animal surgery! Thankyou for the idea though - very quickly, should I isolate the fish from the tank (where there is ONE other fish - he is fine) and put him in a hospital tank where I can treat him more appropriately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted September 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2005 Thanks Pegasus - I will seriously consider your option. I have removed the carbon filter and will try a course of melafix for 1 week and see how it goes. After that, I may very well consider your suggestion. Regards. Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Not a lot of change really here - I have been treating with Melafix for over 1 week and no real change. I have decided to now isolate the fish into a seperate hospital tank and treat him with salt and see how he goes - if there is no go with that, I will carry out pegasus's suggestion. Just a comment - around the infected area small black bits have developed. He's not looking 2 happy so I am going to move pretty quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 Sorry we have not been of moer help. Black bits (if on humans) can be dead skin. Perhaps it has that flesh eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis, that makes the news every so often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 How about an update on your goldfish...how is it doing??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted June 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Thanks for your concern Caper / Caryl... Here are some recent photos of the fish. The puffyness has expanded and there are some small 'black bits' also appearing on the blister. However he still doesn't seem too affected by it - he's swimming normally, eating fine and still doesn't seem to be bothering him too much. The other fish in the tank are also fine - so its not like a disease that has spread. If it is necrotizing fasciitis, how do I treat this? Thanks for your help.... Regards, Matthew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 looks like a tumour, some of my gold fish in the pond develop small tumors from time to time but usually disappears with no real treatment. if it is a tumour it wont be an health issue and to my knowledge u'll need to cut it off if u think its a blister with full of fluids try epson salt half a teaspoon per 50L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Wow, not seen anything like that before. I too think it may be a tumour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman1 Posted June 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 looks like a tumour, some of my gold fish in the pond develop small tumors from time to time but usually disappears with no real treatment. if it is a tumour it wont be an health issue and to my knowledge u'll need to cut it off if u think its a blister with full of fluids try epson salt half a teaspoon per 50L So - how exactly do you go about cutting it off? By the looks of it, there could be fluid inside the puffyness and I wouldn't want to do more damage by lancing it and draning the fluid. What I'll do it treat him with so Epsom salts and see how he goes - if theres no improvement, I might just have to try your suggestion... Thanks fishboi Regards, Matthew (p.s. at this stage I haven't put him in a hospital tank as...how can I say it...the shock of it all would probably kill him..he is an old fish and is kind of 'best buddies' with another fish in the tank....on the odd ocasion when I was cleaning the tank, I would remove the fish into a smaller tank....however they would become very unsettled and one of them (who's fine and healthy would always attempt to jump out of the tank - he did once and fortunately it wasn't a long drop and I was there to put him back in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 hay fishman so how is the little guy doin any luck with that epson salt? fishman and fishboi, i feel like a side kick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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