Lumps and bumps taken from www.fishdoc.co.uk
Fish are often seen with swellings and growths. The causes and conditions can be complex and I am in danger of making oversimplified comments on what is a specialist area of fish health. It is worth trying to make a few generalizations but, if your fish are affected, seek expert opinion.
If a fish has any unusual lumps try to determine whether they appear either over or under the skin. Often it is easy to decide but there are some skin conditions which result in very large tumours, where there tends to be very little distortion of the surrounding, unaffected, tissues. Deep-seated (below the skin) lumps tend to distort and distend a larger area of seemingly healthy tissue.
Where a deep-seated lump or growth is suspected, there are several possible causes; for example, an internal tumour or the onset of a bacterial problem. In this case expert opinion should be sought, as any delay could be serious.
Most skin growths, while disfiguring, are rarely fatal. These can be small milky white-to-grey growths that resemble drops of candle-wax, typical of carp pox. Such growths are often seen on the fins, especially during early spring. At the other extreme, some skin tumours can grow to the size of tennis-balls and range in colour from white to pinky-red. While they can be benign, expert opinion is advisable, especially if the growth interferes with normal swimming and feeding.
In general, there is little that can be done about growths, as many are caused by viruses or other unknown factors. It is possible to attempt surgical removal of larger growths, but this is not usually advisable unless there is a compelling reason to do so. With any type of growth, there is always the risk of secondary bacterial infection so the condition needs to be monitored closely. Often, the problem tends to resolve itself, though it may take a while and, as with any viral problem, there is a strong possibility of a recurrence.
I hope this helps.
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