large white growth on butterfly- lympho? something else?

[jtf74]

Just hit my QT. Not sure what it might be . Seems bigger than photos I've seen online of lympho.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just hit my QT. Not sure what it might be . Seems bigger than photos I've seen online of lympho.

Lympho does grow that large, but it takes weeks. Somebody shipped you that fish with a large growth like that? I would call them out on that, it shouldn’t have been shipped. The fish is also lethargic, but I’m hoping that is just from residual shipping stress.
Jay

 

[jtf74]

Lympho does grow that large, but it takes weeks. Somebody shipped you that fish with a large growth like that? I would call them out on that, it shouldn’t have been shipped. The fish is also lethargic, but I’m hoping that is just from residual shipping stress.
Jay

Yeah I sent them the video right away. Maybe they will make it right. It was barely in the tank 15 minutes when I shot the video and seems to be more energetic now. Not sure where to begin to try and treat this?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can you try to get a clearer picture? If it is lympho, you won’t need to treat it. If it is another infection, you would. I just can’t tell from the photo.
Jay

 

[jtf74]

Its pretty clear towards the end of the video I first posted. Its got much more energy now and already eating mysis also. I'll get another video if that one doesn't work. Will upload another video soon. Thanks!

 

[jtf74]

Here's another. Moving so much now I can't get a still shot.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here's another. Moving so much now I can't get a still shot.

Still tough to see. Does it look like the growth is coming up from under the scales, that is, the scales looked lifted up? If so, this isn’t lymphocystis and it might be an internal fungal infection know as Icthyophonus - that isn’t treatable.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Still tough to see. Does it look like the growth is coming up from under the scales, that is, the scales looked lifted up? If so, this isn’t lymphocystis and it might be an internal fungal infection know as Icthyophonus - that isn’t treatable.
Jay

Looks like cauliflower (huge)but did you see the little bump on its head also in video ?

 

[jtf74]

Still tough to see. Does it look like the growth is coming up from under the scales, that is, the scales looked lifted up? If so, this isn’t lymphocystis and it might be an internal fungal infection know as Icthyophonus - that isn’t treatable.
Jay

Yeah it does look to me like a few little yellow scales are over the growth. I’ll try again to get a good clear picture

 

[jtf74]

Looks like cauliflower (huge)but did you see the little bump on its head also in video ?

I didn't see that. Will look again and try to get more pics

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yeah it does look to me like a few little yellow scales are over the growth. I’ll try again to get a good clear picture

Lymphocystis typically starts on the trailing edges of the fins, not as a large nodule at the base of the fins. Here is a classic example of a severe case:

 

[jtf74]

Its eating well and much more active and feisty. I'm getting a replacement sent but still wanting to do something for this one if possible. Couple more videos if it helps. I will be separating it soon to another tank and will try and get a picture out of water up close.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Its eating well and much more active and feisty. I'm getting a replacement sent but still wanting to do something for this one if possible. Couple more videos if it helps. I will be separating it soon to another tank and will try and get a picture out of water up close.

I'm going to revise my opinion - the fish is a lot less lethargic, I think this IS an odd case of Lymphocystis after all. I would not capture it for photos, too much of a risk of damaging it. It may take 6+ weeks for it to go away, or the nodule may break off sooner.

Jay

 

[jtf74]

W

I'm going to revise my opinion - the fish is a lot less lethargic, I think this IS an odd case of Lymphocystis after all. I would not capture it for photos, too much of a risk of damaging it. It may take 6+ weeks for it to go away, or the nodule may break off sooner.

Jay

I just read this and had already separated into another tank so I got better video. I'm seeing more spots now on fins and body. Thanks for your help and vetteguy too. That would be great if it is lympho. I can wait that out .

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Tough to see, but I see some smaller spots. It is not impossible for a fish to have Lymphocytis and ich at the same time. Since you have the best view of the fish, I’d suggest you look at pictures of fish with ich and see if it matches to your fish.
Jay

 

[jtf74]

Tough to see, but I see some smaller spots. It is not impossible for a fish to have Lymphocytis and ich at the same time. Since you have the best view of the fish, I’d suggest you look at pictures of fish with ich and see if it matches to your fish.
Jay

I don't think its ich. Patches looks too big not like salt specks and no rubbing against stuff from irritation . Now almost overnight theres a giant white almost as large as the tailfin growth on the gills. Is there anything else this could be other than lympho that comes on so quickly?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I don't think its ich. Patches looks too big not like salt specks and no rubbing against stuff from irritation . Now almost overnight theres a giant white almost as large as the tailfin growth on the gills. Is there anything else this could be other than lympho that comes on so quickly?

Not that I know of, but the growth is really fast for Lymphocystis.

Jay

 

[jtf74]

Not that I know of, but the growth is really fast for Lymphocystis.

Jay

Since I have it isolated, is there any general treatment you would recommend I try, or should I just keep well fed and wait to see if it improves. THanks

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Since I have it isolated, is there any general treatment you would recommend I try, or should I just keep well fed and wait to see if it improves. THanks

If it is Lymphocytis, then no treatment will help, the fish just needs to recover on their own.
Jay

 

[jtf74]

That big mass on the tailfin fell off and healed almost overnight. Other spots had developed and started and seem to be subsiding so thinknig it was lympho for anyone interested.