Arandas unusual head growth

Question
Hi Keren,
I'm refereing to Date: 1/15/2006
Subject: Arandas unusual head growth & dying

I face the same problem with my arandas, the bubble grew ( i called it) already covered all parts of her head until covering eyes making her almost blind. She will sit at the bottom of the tank and sometimes will go to the surface during feeding time (seems like she lost her appetite)while the rest still in active.  some details as below
tank : 55 gallons
age : 6 months
no of fish ; 4
Pls help me.. Thanks in advance


Answer
Dear Azman,
That's really sad. Sometimes I think that fancy goldfish are very inhumane man-made hybrids of a fish. I still love orandas, fantails, and all the others and own a couple myself. But then the head growth (properly called a 'wen') covers their eyes and yields them blind. There are some veterinarians and some very brave and experienced aquarists who may try sedating the Oranda with the overgrown wen to preform surgery by trimming the overgrown parts. I have no authority to tell you to try this nor do I have any experience on this myself. But It's really the only option for your Oranda if she is being made miserable by the overgrown wen. I highly recommend you vist this article with a pictorial of a aquatic veterinarian trimming the wen on a Panda Oranda. Please visit here-
"http://thegab.org/Aricles/SurgeryWen.html"
This website also contains info on using oil of cloves as a sedative. This is a highly known fish sedative..
~ you can view a short video of a Koi to undergo an ulcer treatment being sedated by using oil of cloves. Vist here-
"http://www.fishtanksandponds.info/care-maintenance/health/euthanasia.htm"

It's a hard thing to deal with I know. I really hope this has helped you somewhat!

Feel free to let me know how your Oranda is doing!
Only my very best wishes,
Karen~