Tiger Oscar Growth on Head

[iceolated]

I have a Tiger Oscar about 7 years old that now has a growth just above his mouth on the right side.

This growth started about two months ago and has now become quite large. It has a reddish/white color and a shape that would suggest lymphocystis.

I have used melafix and pimafix for a full month (following all instructions) with no change.

Hemmingway, as he's known, has not lost his appetite nor has he lost any weight.
I have posted some pictures at the following site in the folder marked OTHER. I would appreicate any input the forum could provide to confirm if this is indeed lymphocystis or some other disease and how to mitigate it.

My water parameters are as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 40
Nitrite: 0
pH 8.6
Temp: 76-78
Hardness (GH): 150

25% water change every 14 days

Water is treated with AquaSafe and Cycle
(Also used MelaFix and PimaFix)

No tank mates (ate everyone else many years ago as he grew!)

Tank is a 46Gal Bowfront with a Pengiun 330 and Emperor 280 for filtration.

The pH may seem rather high but it comes out the faucet around 9.5. Our water in this area comes from aquifers and is actually about pH 11 when treated. The last step is to inject it with carbonic acid to lower the pH to 9.0-9.5

I don't like using pH buffers as they don't seem to last very long and I'm always afraid of giving the fish pH shock.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[saxolady04]

im afraid i dont no anything about oscars but had 2 reply saying how sorry i am i would love 2 own an oscar but got 2 many tanks now hope some1 comes along and gives you some answers

 

[WILDER]

Can you post a pic that desease you mentioned the lump usually looks like a cualiflower.

 

[black angel]

yes it does look like cauliflower disease. thers no cure as such but keeping the water really clean and making sure you dont get any ammonia or nitrites may make the tumour shrink.

wilder-click on the link and go to "other" link.

 

[WILDER]

Seen pictures now yes it does look like it i'm afraid.

 

[iceolated]

Thanks for the responses.

In my search for answers I have noticed a product made by Aquarium Products called Quick Cure It is labelled as a cure for ick and a one week cure for lymphocystis.

Now, I am skeptical of this product's claims but am willing to give it a shot. Hemmingway has such a personality that it really bothers me to see him disfigured with this growth.

Over the years this fish has leared to eat from my hand. His other trick is if I hold a food stick just above the water he will jump and break the surface to get the food.

In all honesty, this fish is more intelligent than my sister-in-law. Yes, sounds cruel towards her, but if you knew her like I do you would agree..

Thanks,

Gary

 

[black angel]

this isnt a protozoan infestation so it wont help. all i have read points to Acriflavin but this has mixed results.

out of curiosity you have the scottish mainland as your av in white and you call yourself iceolated. any connection between the two as i see you are from dakota?

 

[iceolated]

Born and raised in Greenock, Scotland. Moved to the U.S for a couple of years in 1982 and returned to Scotland living in Thurso from 1984 to 1989. Lived in Bermuda for three years before moving to Florida and then to North Dakota in 1997.

Still have a lot of family in and around Greenock. I do miss my fish 'n chips and a good ice cream from the Orangefield Cafe.

Gary

 

[black angel]

ah i see, nice to know theres more scots on here than i first thought

 

[iceolated]

Well, Hemmingway hasn't gotten any better in these past weeks in fact it looks as though he's getting worse.

He managed to scrape his growth against a rock and start bleeding. The cut piece eventually shrivelled up and fell off but the rest of the growth remains.

After a water change last week, he started to get cloudy eyes. I noticed yesterday that his left eye has started to clear up but the right one is significatnly worse. It looks as though the cornea has a large amount of fluid in it.

Check out the pictures here for updated photos.

Any suggestions? I was considering a salt bath but am starting to wonder if it's time to consider putting the poor guy out of his misery.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[iceolated]

Bump.

 

[WILDER]

Cloudy eye is a symtom to other deseases rather than a desease in it's self, there is nothing to be done for the poor guy, as there is no cure for this desease sorry,the illness will just mount up,can't see the fish pictures are not loading up.

 

[Chino]

What are your dimensions on your tank? 46g Bowfront seems like your keeping him in a prison cell! In other words, I think your tank is too small.

 

[iceolated]

Thanks for the replies

Tank dimensions are 36x15x20

Sounds like what is being said is Hemmingway was more susceptible to cloudy eye because of his compromised immune system from lymphocystis.

He is still eating well and swims around the tank freely. As I look at him now it appears the swelling on the affected eye has decreased somewhat but is still cloudy. I will watch him closely.

On a side note, it looks as though my 46 bowfront has a very very slow leak at the front left corner of the tank. The plastic molding is cracked in two places and a whiteish mineral buildup might mean a new and much bigger (75 gallon) tank is on its way.

Gary

 

[black angel]

It could be a bacterial infection thats caused the eye to cloud over, do you test your water regularly? doing larger water changes more often with deep gravel vacs may see the bacteria count go down and maybe the eye might clear but it doesnt always happen.