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Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:17 pm
by finful
Hi there - i'm really worried about one of my kuhli loaches and reckoned if anyone knew what might be up - it would be you guys. Here's a pic. I hope you can see the red lump just behind his head - it sits slightly off-centre. There are 9 more kuhlis in there and they all seem to be happy enough.

Image

He's still eating - that's how i lured him out to take the pic but not as much as the others. The water quality in the tank is good - it's over 3 years old and quite heavily planted. I have 6 shrimp in there which i believe are sensitive to poor quality water and they are all doing well but just for info ammonia, nitrites are 0 and nitrates around 5ppm.

I was thinking about treating the tank with melafix, i don't have a hospital tank and i think it might stress him out too much trying to catch him anyway.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Karen.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:17 pm
by starsplitter7
I wish I had something constructive to tell you. I am sure this is a very stressful experience for you. I hope someone with more experience will come along to help you.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:43 am
by ClownLoachSharky
He might just be a bit injured. It may even get better in a matter of days. you never no.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:14 pm
by finful
Thanks guys. I've started a two thirds dose of Melafix (just in case it irritates the shrimps). I'll keep you posted as to his progress.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:38 pm
by starsplitter7
Watch your fish carefully when using Melafix. Some of mine have had a badly reaction. I always watch a couple hours after the first treatment, just to make sure.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:35 am
by ClownLoachSharky
ooh i hate treating. sooo scary

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:19 am
by finful
I know, but I'm at loss what else to do. Here's another pic i took this afternoon. I think it's getting bigger.

Image

He's still eating though, so fingers crossed.

Re: Lump on kuhli loach

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:42 pm
by finful
I tried Melafix and the kuhli loaches totally freaked out - rest of the fish were fine. I have a 125 litre tank - put in 10ml on day 1, 10ml on day 2 and 5 ml on day 3. The 5 ml dose had them racing to the surface and two of them turned very pale, nearly white almost immediately. So that's the end of the melafix treatment. Lumpy loach is still going strong, don't see him as often as the others, but he's still coming out for some food. I'll just make sure the water is really clean and hope he gets better.