Is this something to worry about?

[Paulme72]

My pleco is about 9 yrs old. She recently developed a dark orange patch on her back, which has grown to a small mass over the last few weeks. Is this a virus that she can fight without medicine? She seems to be behaving normally.

 

[dudley]

It looks like lymphocytis which is a virus which does occur in fish and there really is no treatment or medication to fix it. Just keep your aquarium clean through regular water changes, debris removal, and with low nitrate levels.

She does look pretty good otherwise.

 

[Paulme72]

Thank you!

 

[ichthys]

It looks like a tumor. Catfish do not get lymphocystis.

 

[dudley]

It looks like a tumor. Catfish do not get lymphocystis.

I stand corrected, I wasn't aware they don't. Is there any treatment for the OP's fish?

 

[Paulme72]

I was beginning to wonder as it has probably doubled in size since I last posted. When researching online initially, many catfish owners have diagnosed lymphocystis as the cause for their fish developing similar growths, so I was surprised to learn today they don't get it, or that it is very rare. I will continue my research.