Could this be dropsy?

[starquest]

This is an upside down catfish that we have had for about 3 1/2 years, and he just developed this growth or lumps today. The tank params are: NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 10 - 20, pH 7.6, temp 89. He has been acting strangely, shimmying occasionly, for a couple of days; but I can't think of anything else. The other fish are fine. He is about 2 inches long.

 

[starquest]

Anyone have ANY thoughts? Should I be worried? I have never seen anything like t his. Should I be thinking euthanasia? It seems double in size now.

 

[KatieJ]

Whatever it is, it definitely looks bad. I'd say either dropsy or some sort of... I dunno, tumor? How long did it take for the lump to develop?

(btw - completely random and off-topic: in your sig, Rick O'Barry made "The Cove," not Rick Perry )

 

[Aces11]

It could be a fast growing tumor or some other kind of mass since it's bulging and lumpy like that. I don't think it's dropsy though.

 

[starquest]

I think, that it developed over a period of 1 -2 days, although I can't be positive. I am pretty sure I would have noticed it previously, but if it was slow growing, maybe not. I have been watching him, in particular, because he just seemed different for the last few days, but I couldn't say how, just a feeling I had. No one else in the family noticed it before yesterday either. It looks about the same today as it did last nite, and he seems listless, but not particularly stressed.