Weird Growth

Question
Hello, I have a chinese algae eater with a weird growth on its nose. When I noticed it last night it was the size in the picture and tonight it is a little smaller.
The pictures can be found
http://gallery.me.com/christensonmedia#100264/IMG_8634&bgcolor=black

Answer
Hello Chris,

Well, hmmm.  I haven't seen this, at least at closeup range, before, but with what I'd have to venture to guess it's parasitic.  I do not believe that is a bacteria.  

Bacterial would be infective in the host...inner, or ontop of it, flat by nature.  I've noted that most fish diseases which are parasitic or fungal in nature have the raised areas with extended external tips.

I won't say it's viral, herpes, or fungal for the same reasons and so again, we have to go with parasitic.

I'd have to assume this is one of the two (parasitic or fungal), although it certainly looks "intelligent" by its shape, and so I have to go with a parasite.

If I were to venture a guess, I'd go with Trichodina pediculus.  Although, please keep in mind, I've never had the closeup of it, such as provided tonight by your image, and I don't know its coloration.  Certainly, it does appear to probably be Trichodina, but if not, it will certainly be curable by Formalin.

Supportive links to this guess:

http://www.tnfish.org/FishDiseasesParasites_TWRA/files/ProtozoanParasites.pdf

http://www.cladocera.de/protozoa/ciliata/images/tri02_05.jpg

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo...

How he got it?  Lots of ideas. they are constantly sticking their little noses into everything.  These guys do it for a living, so it often shows in an injury of some type, such as this.

Trichodina is also a very common fish parasite/protozoan.

It is easily cured.

Algae eaters are somewhat more sensitive to chemicals.  Be careful using an actual "medication", rather than a homeopathic cure.

First, he needs to be isolated, and put into a hospital tank, with a heater, and kept at a warmer tank degree...perhaps 78 degrees.

I'd add 1 teaspoon of salt per five gallons of water and I'd increase that with a new teaspoon daily, until the fish's disease begins diminishing.  When it's gone, do a 20% water change and add a quarter teaspoon of salt to that for 3 continuous days after the protozoan is gone, to make sure the water is clean, yet the salt is consistently at the degree which finally killed the parasite.

If you don't want to use salt and prefer a chemical, you can go with any formalin product.  A good brand name is Quickcure and Parasite Cure.

Make sure the prime ingredient is Formalin.  You will need to treat the entire tank if another fish begins signs of this.

I do not think this is fungal, bacterial, viral or herpies by nature and it shows no signs which look to be tuberculin either.  I would go with the parasite, and whether it turns out to be the Trichodina or not, it will be treatable by salt or formalin.

I certainly enjoyed your macro image.  Great shot!  I'd love to have permission to use it on my blog.  I have a fish blog we're doing, since I don't have the network anymore, and it will go up soon.  I'd love to spotlight this, since it's something I haven't seen, and to get your update once it's cured, to see if the fish lived or passed, and if it was contagious to everyone else.

Be certain to turn off all charcoal filtration during treatments, whether in the tank or in the hospital tank.  You can always take him out and treat him individually, and in fact, I would, just incase.

Happy holidays, and happy fish-keeping.

Renee