Ghost Knife in trouble

[Mitch]

If anyone can help me this would be great. Ive never had a problem with my knife in the 4years ive had it, not even with my discus. Just noticed tonight these lumps on its neck. There are 2 lumps next to each other and they are both about the size of a 5cent piece and dome shaped, and there is also a hole on the other side that looks as though it was a lump and has burst (Only speculating). Very hard to get photos of the bugger still, but got out the old blood worms and got a couple, not the best quality though. Any help would be great, this is one of my oldest/favourite fish. Thanks Mitch.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w258/baggedphotos/30-12-07025.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w258/baggedphotos/30-12-07021.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w258/baggedphotos/30-12-07019.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w258/baggedphotos/30-12-07011.jpg

[Merrilyn]

Could be a cyst or a tumour. Not really any way of knowing at the moment, so all you can do for now is wait it out.

Because it has grown so quickly, it may well be a fluid filled cyst. Tumours tend to be more slow growing. If you've got a hospital tank, I'd move the fish now, and keep everything as clean as possible.

It may burst and release fluid, and if so, I would be administering an antibiotic at that stage. Something like tetracycline would be good, although that will destroy any bio filter. Daily water changes will be necessary during treatment.

If it's a tumour, it will gradually increase in size till it affects the internal organs, which will eventually lead to the death of the fish.

Good luck. I hope it resolves itself.

[ILLUSN]

get that fish into a hospital tank, if you can have a feel of it if it feels slightly liquidy consider piercing it (with a sterile needle) to remove the fluid.

tetracycline would be my choice of antibiotic as well, you'll need to do daily or 2x daily changes of 50-90% as a filter will be useless 9in your hospital tank.

[fishgeek]

if he means much too you then see if someone local can do cytology and cultures of an aspirate of the swelling..

andrew

my first thoughts were strangles in ahorse, but then i dont do horse either :roll:

[Mitch]

Ok ive got a 2by 2 hospital tank which will just be big enough as it is close to 50cm guess it will have to do. But where do i get my hands on tetracycline. Thanks for all your fast responses. Happy new year.

[ILLUSN]

most fish shops sell tetracycline tablets, if not theres a few on ebay who sell them.

good luck with it.

[Mitch]

Update: My 2by2 was much too small for the Ghost and seemed to be stressing him out. Went back into community tank and I kept a close eye on it. I got lucky and sighted a burst sist and poped him into the 2by2 for a 1hr bath in tetracycline, then did this again later that night. Its been 5days since it burst have just been adding salt to the tank and the unburst one has gone down and fish looking happy. Spoke to LFS and lady seemed to be sure it was a sist and that it is pretty common in Ghosts as they get older. So thanks for everyones help. Hopefully it will be alright. :)

[ILLUSN]

glad to hear it, any chance of an updated photo?