I hate to break the run of disese-free fish, but I today I noticed a lump on my paradise fish' head. I don't have a camera that could have gotten a close-up, so I did a quick sketch. He's been eating normally and acting normally. I've been doing daily water changes on the tank he's in--with the fry. There's nothing in the tank that he could have hit himself on.

The lump is quite large and located inbetween his right eye and his nose.

What does the lump look like? Is it a bump under the skin or does it appear red on the surface? All red or is there any white in it?

Here is a good site for fish illnesses. Kudos on the drawing, that's pretty good.

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Not to good with those kind of things. But very detailed drawing, hopefully it goes away very soon

well, he's not looking better, and actually looks worse. the redness has spread, and now his mouth is looking odd--almost anteater-ish. there's no fuzz any more. just redness and swelling. he's also starting to have a hard time eating because of his mouth.

Are you giving any meds? If so, which ones?


There is always the remote possibility of a tumor.

i was thinking that, too. i have no clue what this is.

unfortunatly this could be a number of differing things, i know you have posted a drawing but a photo would be better for us to look at and try to help, but have you read this it might help you to work out what you can see.

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i am thinking ulcers or read the bit about cotton wool disease

I didn't see anything for ulcers. I tried to take a pic, and I'll get that up soon, but I don't you'll be able to see anything.

The only time he couldn't eat, but tried, was when his upper lip was swollen open. There was also a dark-colored (almost black) blotch that appeared on his upper lip. The lump was no longer trailing white fuzz, but had started to bleed. This all happened at about the same time. When I cleaned his water, he seemed fine. The swelling has gone down, and the hole looks like it's starting to heal, and the blotch is gone. He's never stopped eating, and he's not looked thin. He also has been swimming normally and has not been clamping his fins. The only way you can tell if there is something wrong with him is if you look at his head.

I've started a new round of tetracycline and anti-bacterial food (pellets). He's not been rejecting the pellets. So, I guess I am doing something right?

yes you must be doing somthing right personaly i would keep up with the treatment and make sure the water quality is ok like you have been doing, and see how he goes on

Alrighty, sounds like a logical plan. I'll be keeping up with the updates.

Well, an update. I euthanized him a few days ago. I was going to start him on the M1&M2 combination, but he had started to act like he was dying--that odd swimming.