This poor girl I found this morning. What ever it was, it came up overnight. I put her down. Although I wonder if perhaps I should have pierced the lump instead, and just see how she went. But it looked worse in real life.

Poor fish. Odd that it happened so quickly, in my opinion, but I have no idea what it might have been. I hope someone else might offer an answer as to what it was. I guess all the other ones are fine?

Oh, while I'm here, on a different subject, I keep forgetting to add a post about macro photography that I said I would. My apple-loggies. I'll maybe have a go tonight.

strange it happend so quick are you sure it could not have been longer & maybe just maybe you missed spoting it it looks as though it could be an ulcer but they dont get like that overnight are all the other fish in the tank ok ? it might help to keep a close eye on the tank when was the last time you tested your water quality

I doubt that she'd go unseen. That's my small tank, and I have Floating Fry Traps that I'm always in there checking. I'm certainly keeping a more studious eye out.

I don't know my water parameters right now, but I did full range about a month or so back. Nothing's been introduced except tap water, and the Eheim.

I sort of don't think it was an ulcer. It appeared hollow. And that's why I'm thinking I acted too quick. Perhaps I should have popped the balloon, so to speak. It may have been nothing more than a build up of gas...

FishyPaw wrote:

someone else might offer an answer

I honestly don't worry too much about ailment identification for my own fish, except where there's the suggestion it may spread. I remember mentioning a few times that Cory of mine, jumping out of the tank, but she was important to the breeding effort.

I've actually found 3 or 4 Guppies on the floor since then, and I've lost count of other individual deaths over the past 2 months. Unless they roll out in Haz-Mat suits, it's all part of the normal cycle of life.

I've just been reading that thread on Tubifex and Bloodworms. My fish have never had anything like that before yesterday. Do you think it may stem from some sort indigestion thing...?

i tend to check my water stats every week just to make sure that everything is in order & hopefully i can then spot any potential problems with the water quality before its to late like i said before i look after the water & the fish look after themselves dont suppose you thought of doing an internal examination did you ?

Fleetingly I thought of it, but it was bad enough cutting the poor girls head off.

I think generally, I prefer them to be well dead when I find them.

I wasn't really aware of it, until when I transferred 15 Bristlenose between tanks. I had the tub resting up top for the temperature difference. I've come back a few minutes later, and the floor of the tub's covered in crap!

I reckon they save it up for special occasions.

no unfortunatly plecs are well known for producing a lot of waste which is one of the reasons you need a good filtration system for them another reason i like to know what my water stats are is if i ever need to transfer fish from tank to tank then i like to no if there is a differance especially in nitrates, nitrites & ph as this can have an effect on said fishes welfare

I don't feel my water parameters between my tanks would drift that far apart, to be worth worrying about it. Certainly not to the degree (of change) that I couldn't move a fish.

Temperature on the other hand, I'm really careful with, and try to keep both tanks as near as.