Abnormal fleshy growth...

[Skye]

I have a spotted molly and I noticed on its top fin there is a pink, fleshy growth. At first I thought it was cancer and maybe it is but it's on either side of the fin, larger on one side than the other.
It is not hindering the fish in any way, it eats and swims just fine. The other molly has no signs of the same growth.
I'm wondering if anyone knows what this might possibly be or if it is indeed cancer. I was trying to get a picture but my camera won't focus properly on the fish :huh:

 

[monkey_toes]

I've noticed a lot of dalmatian mollies (white w/black spots) in the stores have lesions, sores and/or growths, yet the other molly varieties in the same tanks look fine. My assumption was the fish were inbred and genetically predisposed to tumors. Years ago, when solid black mollies were new to the market, a lot of them had similar issues.

 

[khombre]

I've noticed a lot of dalmatian mollies (white w/black spots) in the stores have lesions, sores and/or growths, yet the other molly varieties in the same tanks look fine. My assumption was the fish were inbred and genetically predisposed to tumors. Years ago, when solid black mollies were new to the market, a lot of them had similar issues.

same thing with inbred swordtails here in our country too :huh:

 

[Skye]

Problem is it's not a dalmation molly, it's the gold and black ones, unless they are considered dalmation Mollys, I don't know much...

 

[monkey_toes]

Dalmatian mollies are colored just like the dog — all white with black spots. BUT any inbred mollies seem prone to these issues. Melanistic individuals in general seem to have higher rates of tumors and/or cancers, and the more inbred the line becomes the higher the incidence seems to get. Since most of the molly varieties available exhibit some form of partial or complete melanism, and you can't fix a trait like a lyre-shaped tail or balloon-shaped body without intentional inbreeding, it stands to reason domestic mollies of all kinds should have a high percentage of tumor/cancer occurances. The more inbred a particular line is, the more tumors you'll see — unless the breeder goes to the trouble of taking any individuals that develop tumors out of the breeding population.

 

[Skye]

Thanks for the help, makes me sad to see my fish having this but hey