Help dwarf angelfish

[Hunt3r]

Hi i have a heraldi angelfish that i noticed his left side has a little reddish lump with some abnormal scale. Dont know what it is probably dropsy he is still doing fine grazing and eating. Dont know if its treatable or not or also contagious. No qt tank also.

Not the best photo.

 

[melypr1985]

That looks more like an infection. I'd remove for an acriflavin dip followed by QT with antibiotics. It could progress quickly.

 

[Humblefish]

^^ Agree; Probably a cut/injury (scraped himself on a rock) that is now getting infected.

You can take the passive approach by just food soaking vitamins and/or antibiotics; but as Meredith said sometimes infections can spiral out of control quickly.

Acriflavine bath + dosing antibiotics directly into a QT would be the more aggressive (and effective) treatment plan.

 

[Hunt3r]

additional photo. Is it contagious with other fish?i still need to setup a qt tank

 

[melypr1985]

bacteria are everywhere in the water. Its up to the fish's immune system to fight it off before it causes harm (or too much harm anyway). It's not contagious like you mean in other words.

 

[Hunt3r]

Thanks so i still have time to set up a qt tank. Or should do the dip without qt?

 

[ZachsZoo]

Maybe give him a freshwater dip to make sure there are no parasites or diseases on him.

 

[melypr1985]

Thanks so i still have time to set up a qt tank. Or should do the dip without qt?

I won't say you have time. If it's a gram negative bacteria then you have very little time. If it's gram positive, then yeah you have time. The acriflavin dip should happen asap regardless of if you choose to QT with antibiotics. It's an antiseptic and will help halt or slow down the progression of the bacterial infection.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks so i still have time to set up a qt tank. Or should do the dip without qt?

I would do the acriflavine bath and then place the fish directly into QT. Less catching/handling of the fish, the better.