Pitbull Pleco w/ growth on one fin

Question
QUESTION: Couldn't answer last response with another follow-up, had to ask a new question....Answers to your questions:-

Purchased 3 of them on-line (ThatPetPlace# and all arrived in good health from what I could see.  Pretty sure it's something he's picked up since, though not exactly sure how long he had it before I noticed it - not easy to track him down in a fully live planted aquarium #haven't seen the other two for 3 months and suspect they are no more - maybe more of that later#.  First thing can tell you is that the growth is hard, early on I tried to wipe it off with a Q-Tip but it wasn't going anywhere.  Aquarium is a 55 gallon tank with neon tetras (4), glowlight tetras (5), harlequins (4), zebra danios (1 orange, 2 pink), dwarf (oto) catfish (2).   Been testing water quality for some time and get good readings for pH (7.6), Ammonia (0), Nitrite (0) and Nitrate (5.0-10.0) each time (any other tests I can run?).  Filtration is via the Eheim classic 2213 which is cleaned monthly.  The list of fish above does not include a number that I've lost over the 10 month since set-up, (2 Pitbull Plecos) or have died, zebra danios (6, black/white), all (6) pygmy cories, 1 harlequin and 1 neon tetra.  In searching for the other 2 plecos I've removed all ornaments and have a pretty good view of the tank, but still can't find them.  As I've had problems over the last few months, since a 2 week vacation, with green algae growing on plants I suspect they've died and rotted away or been eaten by snails, but have found no real evidence, and keep looking for them.  Because of the green algae I've been changing water quite a lot (between 10% & 20% every other day).  The Pleco with growth had it before all this though, and he's been in isolation during that time.  Sorry for the rambling, hope this info helps.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi again Jeff,

Well, please don't freak out when I tell you this, but you seem intelligent enough to realize that #1, this is probably a serious growth and may be something contagious, (wart or parasite) and #2, that it's possibly a granuloma of some kind.  Granuloma means bump, but there are so many causes it's often difficult, without microscope, dye tests and such to diagnose exactly what they are.

Just short of removing the tip of the fin, and granuloma together, by scissor (not as cruel as it sounds, but some people shy away from this because they don't want to hurt the fish), and letting the fish recuperate in a quarantined area, there isn't a lot you can do past what you have probably already tried...but let's explore options a bit together to see if we have any "new" ideas. The good thing about tips of fins is, they grow back.

I'd recommend using a Formalin product on the tip of the fin (actually DROP it onto the fin, while the fish is in your hand), and then return him to his hospital tank, treat the water with the Formalin product as well, and salt, turn off all charcoal filtration and see if you can't kill it.  

We all love our planted tanks.  I have one as well but they pose many problems for us that other aquarists don't have.  Number one, we can't readily medicate our planted tanks with anti-parasitics, because most of us keep snails and other invertebrates.  I do as well, and I have had a recent infection which has posed this similar problem in my own little fish world.  I sympathize, so I will give you the best advice I can about that and hope we can fix this issue without further loss of fish.

This is tedious, but it's worth it.

All the plants, substrate, etc., need to be removed, and the tank cleaned with bleach, standing for 24 hours, dry, to be 100% sure all bleach evaporates even after the rinse, and then refilled and I know....the last thing you want to do is re-cycle this system, but it's probably for the best.

Fish which are surviving should be isolated and treated.  You should probably put them into a quarantine using the teaspoon of salt per gallon method while they are there (one week to two weeks) and you re-cycle your aquarium.

I'd buy new substrate.  I would not waste time or money on the old stuff if I had lost that many fish.  It's simply not worth the risk.

I'd put my plants in water, in a quarantined bucket and I'd probably dip them in antibacterial soap per quart before I did that.  From the tank, into one tablespoon of Antibacterial Dawn Dishsoap, and soak for two minutes, each, rinsing thoroughly and then placing them into the quarantined bucket.  No salt should go near the plants, as they will die.  

If you are a mossy person, such as me, you will want to take your mosses and treat them the same way, but you will want to also wash out the root system as well as you can while you rinse, to ensure that nothing negative is in it.

Dishsoap fortunately contains phosphates, which plants love.  I know...scary thought, dipping plants in soap, isn't it?  But, the benefits far outweigh the risk of bringing back a parasite or a deadly bacteria/fungus to the aquarium.

Please restore plants, substrate and water to the old aquarium once sterilized, and re-cycle it using a product I swear by.  Biozyme will help to cycle it within 2 weeks, and the very day you set it up again, it will certainly not hurt to put the plants and invertebrates back in.  The fish, however, should probably wait until any ammonia/nitrate cycles have passed.

I know this sounds like a lot, and I truly sympathize with you, but you have basically been going through this for ten months.  You are missing so many fish and no answers yet.

Furthermore, please sterilize your filter, and I'd absolutely NEVER tell someone to wash or change out their biological filtration unit, but you should.  It will regrow the important bacteria during the re-cycling of the aquarium.

When you purchase any new fish, please quarantine them.  Thirty days.  No shorter.  It's worth every minute to also transfer them into a bowl between the bag and the fish tank.  I often put Methyolene Blue into a bowl of water, soak the fish to temperature, and remove only the fish into the bowl (no store water).

Jeff, I would also like to invite you to communicate back and forth with me on this and if this does help, please let me know.  

I will do a little research in my library to see if there is an actual "answer" I can give you, rather than an educated diagnosis.  

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Renee.  You know I thought about clipping the growth off as I was pretty sure fins grow back - as experienced after fin nippings.  I asked someone at PetSmart and she said not to do it as it as it causes stress, pain etc. etc.  So, treat the fin directly with a Formalin product (any suggestion?) then clip the fin to remove growth, and then return fish to hospital tank - with same Formalin in the water?

Just wanted to make clear that none of the other fish I have lost had any such growths before they died, and those still alive seem to be doing fine.  Would you still recommend the thorough tank cleaning?

ANSWER: Hello Jeff,

I do have to tell you that is what I'd do.  But, that is always someone's choice.  I would also add one teaspoon of salt per gallon to the hospital tank while he recouperates.  I'd be sure to take out charcoal filtration and I'd heat it to 80 degrees.  I'd feed sparingly, algae pellets, and I would not worry about bright light during the first few days after the fin nipping, if you go this route.  

As an expert here, I can't advise you to perform any veterinary procedure, so that's up to you. :)

But, if you do choose to go this route, Drs. Foster & Smith carry Formalin MS.  I recommend this, as it's not as caustic as some are.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=21423

I still would recommend a thorough tank cleaning.  Here is why: You don't know at this point, and for all these months, whether this is parasitic or fungal or a virus (wart).  No matter what it is, it can be laying dormant in your aquarium ready to host onto another fish.  

Any loss of fish would warrant a tank cleaning, if it's more than one.  That's quite the list above, so I'd still do the cleaning if it were my tank...still, you may choose not to go this route.  If you choose not to go this route, keep an eye on things and see how they go after the amputee is returned home. If you begin losing fish, then maybe you can keep this note hanging around to recall how to sterilize the plants before returning them to the aquarium.

Either way, I think we're on a good track here and certainly I do hope my suggestions help.  

Happy fish-keeping! :)

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK, the growth has been removed.  Shallow dish and pizza cutter were my weapons of choice.  Both sterilized first of course.  Fin bled immediately but hopefully he/she will heal, in a clean hospital tank with a tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons.  I tried the formalin on the growth but he/she showed immediate signs of discomfort/irritation, so i decided to operate.  Fingers crossed, I'll let you know how he/she does.  Have kept the growth, might get it analyzed as it may help knowing exactly what it is.

Thanks.

Answer
Hi,

In my opinion, I'd have done the same thing.  Couldn't advise that, of course, however I believe you made the right choice here.

Let me know how this turns out.  

My guess is it's viral or it's just a tumerous growth.

The bleeding will cease...salt is an excellent idea.  Keep the tank warm. :)

Good luck and please send photos when her wound heals.  I'd be interested to see how fast she recouperates.

Happy holidays.
Renee