TSN needs your help please.

[Ric Foster]

I hope someone here can help. I have a TSN that got bumps on him a week ago. They look like warts to me, they dont discolor the skin, they just raised it. They are only located in front of his dorsal fin and by his mouth on both sides. A few nights ago he scratched them off on some rocks. I raised the temp from 80 to 84* and added aquarium salt the first day I noticed these but it has had no noticable effect. Thank you in advance for your help.

[MatsP]

It is possible that the skin lesions are just that, but I would check the ammonia and nitrite levels in the tank. Big Pims tend to produce a lot of waste, and sometimes they overpower the filter system with one big hit of ammonia, which can lead to infections that produce skin lesions.

--
Mats

[Ric Foster]

Thanks MatsP, I checked Amonia=0, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=20

[Richard B]

How long have you had the fish? & do you know the origin of the fish ie been captive for ages or a new W/C import?

The hard first ray of the dorsal looks broken off which is indicative of new imports.

I think Mats' post is spot on in that they look like physical damage first & foremest but now secondary infections could possibly now take hold. Top quality water is a must & we need to remove the cause of the problem firstly & then treat the symptoms

[necrocanis]

Just as a thought also, that TSN can be quit skittish at first as well until they are settled into their new home. If you keep up with your water change schedule(seems like it with those readings) and have a large enough home for him with an adequate food supply he should be fine. Salt treatments are ok, but only a short term solution. Should heal up pretty fast. If it's not better by now there may be other problems.

[sidguppy]

best remove the rocks and add wood

there are chalciferous rocks in there, they make the water hard and alcalic, like a Malawi tank
this is not good for an Amazonian fish.

best skip the rocks, buy yourself a huge piece of bogwood wich you can stand up on it's branches or lean against side or backpanel.
that way you create shade and a resting place for the TSN

also: wood affects the water in a way wich benifits the TSN.