Ill Knifefish

Hey all

My Clown Knifefish has been developing some strange marks on his body, almost like spots but definitely not white spot. They're mainly around the head region, but are also found on his dorsal and anal fins. I have no idea what it is or how to treat it:

Here's some pictures (sorry for the quality):




Please help, because I really like this fish and I don't want to lose him!
Regards
SA

 

sure those are spots and not "cavities" ? looks like how hole in the head disease starts but hard to tell from the pics...

 

Not hole in the head, as these 'spots' stick out rather than go inwards; I've seen HITH before, this is quite different...

If you enlarge the second picture and look at his lower jaw, you'll see it - it looks like pimples.

 

ok cant enlarge the pic... not sure what those could be...

 

Salmon you sure it is not whitespot ????

I would pass this one by Prof Dirk .......

 

I'm almost positive it's not whitespot. These marks are nothing like that of white spot, as they are slightly larger than ich spots, and appear to be almost 'pushing out' from the body, kinda like growths.

Beyond that I've examined the fish - he's not scratching at all, which would normally be the case.

I've done some of my own research into what it might be, and I'm thinking maybe it might be an early stage of lymphocystis, also known as cauliflower. There isn't a cure for it, and apparently most fish won't survive it

Wikipedia says:

Sounds similar. I got some hope when it said that keeping him in a stress-free environment with bacterial treatment (although I'm not too sure how this will help with a virus) will allow the virus to subside.

Wish me luck.

 

Luck dude

 

Good luck SA. Hope he pulls through.

 

---. R. I. P.---​

Jokes Aside.

I think you should quarantine the fella immediately especially if you've got other fish in the tank.

However, first make sure you know what type of infection it is and whether it is contagious.

 

Good luck dude
I hope the fish pulls through

 

Hi Salmon
I had these fish aswell at one stage and they do shed there skin from time to time. I thought about that when i saw the eyes. But these spots lock like a "Growth, zyst, " i had ones on 2 of my ramerezi. Looked very bad and grew for quite some time but never bothered the fish. What ground do you have? could it be old injury that healed and callised

 

Hey all

He's still alive, but not looking any better. Whatever he has, has spread to most of his lower jaw, and his fins are looking a bit degraded. He's still eating and swimming actively.

What my knifefish has isn't leaving his body though, and I've never seen a knifefish shed (I have 5 in total, had them over the past 3 years). His eyes are that colour because of the flash and because he's albino, they're actually very clear. What do you mean by 'what ground' do I have?

 

Hi salmon
hope the fish is still alive. These growth on the rams olso never left the body but it was diffinatly some kind of "object" under the skin.
I thought the skin of your fish is quite scared, possibility of trying to bury it self in and the substrate is a little rough. But than it wouldn't spread as you discribed. did you ask the prof? How are the others doing, how warm is your water. Just as a suggestion increase the temp with lots of O2. Shouldn't do any harm with them.
I hope your fish comes right.

 

One for the Prof. I say

 

Probably. I'm going to isolate him and try get some meds in the tank, and soon will post this up for the Prof.

 

But what do you want to medicate for?
Be carefull and make sure the med is safe for scaleless fish!

 

Clown knifefish aren't scaleless, they just have very small scales. They aren't as sensitive to medications as Gymnotiformes knives, like BGKs. Either way though, you still should be careful with meds.

Apparently bactericides not only kill bacteria (can't be too good for the filter), but also help slow down viral as well as fungal attacks as well. Not a cure, but a treatment. I'll be doing this with caution.

 

eish, shame poor fishy dudelet - hope it pulls through this crappy situ.

 

Hope the fish pulls through. Just please make sure you Isolate the fish in the appropriate size tank because if it is just to small for it you are going to loose it.

 

I had exactly the same problem with my knifefish approx 3 months ago. Was not sure what it was, the one eye also popped out and turned white. Treated the whole tank which also included Malawis and convicts with Seachem's Polyguard as it covers various deseases. Anyway the fish pulled through and currently shows no signs of whatever it was. Just strange that no other fish were affected by this. Maybe I was just lucky....