Help me and my fish!

[Spoiled]

I just noticed my fish is acting weird. He is swimming OK, but he has a funny bump under his chin, and will not eat his food. It more seems like he can't, because he was picking at it, when he usualy attacks it, and he was swimming up and down looking at it and trying to eat it, but changing his mind at the last minute. I'm leaving him with petsitters in a few days, and I really don't want him to die while in their care. Any help would be appreciated.

[Lucky Rescue]

What kind of fish is it, and how long have you had it? Also, what is your setup like?

[Spoiled]

My fish is an African Cichlid, and I've had him for about half a year now. He is about two inches long, and lives in a 15 gallon aquarium. His aquarium gets cleaned about once a month, since it is only him and an algae eater that live in it. His bump is seeming to get bigger... It wouldn't be possible for it to be a tumor, would it?

[Lucky Rescue]

Yes, fish can get tumours, and there really isn't much you can do about it. If that is what yours has, it is probably preventing him from eating.

For future reference, you should replace about 25% of the water every 10 days or so for optimal conditions. Do you have a filter?

[Luba]

Spoiled is there by any chance (non fish owner here) that the bump is a result of a parasite of sorts. Sometimes a parasite bite or infestation can start of as one thing then lead to something else.

Do you have another tank that you can transfer the fish from this tank into another while you thoroughly clean that one out? I guess that would mean buying some sort of safe disinfectant cleaner from a pet store to clean the aquarium and the filter lines etc?? Just a thought!

[Lucky Rescue]

That's worth a try Luba.

Do NOT use cleaning solutions of any type. Get some sea salt from the pet store. If you have a bowl or small hospital tank, put 85 degree water in it, and add the salt at about half the amount recommended on the bag.

Put the cichlid in the salt bath for about 15 minutes (or less if it shows signs of distress) then put it back in the regular tank.

While the fish is in the salt bath, vacuum the bottom of the tank it was in,and replace about half the water. Use some Aquarisol to condition the water.

Do this every day and see if there is any improvement.

[Luba]

Okay nix the disinfection suggestion (I told u non fish owner) lol
Tx LR

[Lucky Rescue]

Hehe...wasn't trying to chastise you, Luba...just wanted to emphasize it in case Spoiled didn't know. I didn't know either before I got fish!

In fact, I killed quite a few before it dawned on me to maybe learn about them BEFORE getting them. Duhhh...

[Luba]

I know u wuzn't!