Anyone ever seen this in a Clown Loach?

[LittleLoach]

Hi there guys.

I noticed that my littlest Clown Loach has been actin gup over the last 48 hours and discovered this little lump under its gills.

I'm pretty sure it's not a swim bladder condition (wrong place in the fish) but I would like to know if it is something that should be worried about?

He/she's off her food ATM and heads to the surface more than normal but returns straight to it's little hidding place.

Any ideas???

PS: It doesn't seem to play possum any more than usual either.

[clayt101]

You may want to post this at www.loaches.com . I am not sure if they have a forum over there or not.

[LittleLoach]

Unfortunately he passed away this morning.

:(

We performed and "autopsy" and found out that there was nothing we could have done anyway ... he had a cyst (5mm) under his gills. It wasn't pretty. Especially since he was only 8 cm long.

Must have been hard for him.

There were not intestinal worms or the like so not need to vaccinate the rest of the tank.

Something to laugh about though would have to be the suggestions from various LFS about what it could have been...
- swim blader problem (der - wrong place on the fish)
- intestinal worms (valid)
- he swallowed a rock and it got stuck (I had a good laugh because a rock that size would never fit through his mouth)
- eggs (my favourite)

[ewok]

the cyst wasn't parasitic was it? not to worry you or anything, but some reading at www.thekrib.com or www.skepticalaquarist.com might be good in case you see this kind of problem again.

good luck.