Goldfish Injury

[EliK]

My son's (I say his, because he brought it home from school one day. I'm the one who takes care of it and its tank mates) 2.5" goldfish seems to have sustained some sort of injury. It has a small depression about 1/8" (2.5mm) wide in its left side, and a corresponding bump on its right
(Top pictures - bump; bottom pictures - hole)

30G tank
2 goldfish + small pleco
0 ammonia 0 nitrite 10-20 nitrate
75-79'F (fluctuates over the course of the day)
gravel on the bottom, minimal other decor

 

[Stefan3289]

Does the area seem red (like an open sore) or does it seem to be a bump under the scales?

 

[EliK]

The bump looks like it is under the scales, and is the same color as the rest of the fish.
The depression on the other side is purple/redish.

 

[EliK]

I first noticed it about 6 hours ago, because the fish was sitting with clenched fins on the bottom of the tank.
Since then, it has been swimming, but slower than usual, and only along the bottom, not the middle/top as it usually does.
It has also been staying very close to the other goldfish, a behavior I have never seen before.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Could the pleco be sucking on him? They will sometimes suck the slime coat off of goldfish.

 

[EliK]

It's possible, but I've never seen the pleco go near either of the goldfish. It spends 23hrs/day under a piece of fake driftwood on the floor of the tank.
Would that create such injuries?

 

[FishGuest5123]

I honestly have no clue what it is. I’ve raised gold fish most of my life but never seen ths. The skin pulling away I s concerning. I would keep the water extremely clean and add aquarium salt. Then see where it go’s. We have no way to know what the internal lump is. Only an aquatic vet could do that. It could be a tumor. If t grows, it’s probably malignant. If it remains the same then maybe it’s benign.

 

[EliK]

Thank you

 

[EliK]

Update:
The goldfish now seems to be irritated in two more spots, and is showing redness around its gills on one side.
I also managed to get some close up pictures, and it looks like in at least one of the injured areas, scales have been torn out.
The original bump on the fish's right side seems to have some sort of white fuzz growing out of it.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Can you get antibiotics in Jerusalem? It looks like a secondary infection may be setting in.

 

[EliK]

I have always found the fish stores here to be very well equipped.
Tell me what to look for (chemical name, not brand), and I'm sure I'll find it.

In the mean time - the fish has gone back to swimming and eating normally, even though its appearance has gotten worse.

 

[FishGuest5123]

If you can find them, I’d get Seachem Kanaplex and API Furan-2. Use them together per package instructions. Kanaplex is about the best antibiotic we can get our hands on and Furan-2 treats bacterial infections. So your hitting from both sides. I have a cherry barb in both meds right now. They won’t hurt your cycle either if it is well established.

 

[EliK]

I can get Kanaplex, but not Furan-2.
Is there anything else that I can try instead?

 

[FishGuest5123]

I can get Kanaplex, but not Furan-2.
Is there anything else that I can try instead?

Anything that treats bacterial infections. Can you get Erythromycin?

 

[Colin_T]

Goldfish ulcer disease.

Wipe the inside of the glass down with a clean sponge.

Do a 90% water change and gravel clean the substrate. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use the media. Tip the bucket of dirty water on the lawn.

Add 4 heaped tablespoons of rock salt for every 20 litres (5 gallons) of tank water and see how it goes. Keep the salt in the tank for at least 2 weeks. If no improvement after a week, look for anti-biotics or medicated food.