My cardinal tetra is rotting from the inside out...

A few months ago in January, I noticed one cardinal tetra developing what looked like white pimples looking cysts (first photo). I knew it wasnt ich. I thought it might have been Dermocystidium, but it never got the telltale bubbles and the white dots never turned into worm like squiggles. I don't believe it's neon tetra disease bc I've read it hardly affects cardinals. It eats, swims, and behaves normally, other than rapid breathing.

Fast forward 3 months, and this is what I'm dealing with now. It looks like my cardinal is splitting open with this white mass protruding out...almost like it's organs are coming out or something. It sticks a good millimeter out. I've tried some anti bacteria meds and methylene blue to no effect. I really don't know what I'm dealing with. I assume if it's contagious, all my other cardinals have it already...so I haven't brought myself to the point where I'm going to euthanize it. This tetra is over 3 years old, and still behaves like he's healthy, so I don't want to euthanize it unnecessarily. Could this be TB???

 

Just spitballin' here, but it kinda looks like a tumor that started internal, split the skin and kept growing...and you say it still acts more or less normal?

 

Just spitballin' here, but it kinda looks like a tumor that started internal, split the skin and kept growing...and you say it still acts more or less normal?

That's what Ive been thinking. Some kind of cancer/tumor. It breaths a bit faster than all my other cardinals, but it is active and a voracious eater. If not for this horror show coming out of it's body, I wouldn't be able to tell it apart from any of the other tetras.

 

Sounds like it is acting like the few fish i have had with tumors. Basically acts fine until it can't anymore.

 

I hate cancer, horrible disease has killed so many people and animals I've loved. Let him keep on swimming until it's clear he's had enough. I'm sorry for you and for your little guy! That's just how it goes sometimes...

 

Thank you for all your replies. I looked into it a little bit more, and I've narrowed it down to a tumor or lymphocystis. The photos in the link below look very similar to what I'm dealing with. It is a type of virus, and unfortunately, it does pose a risk of spreading to other fish. For completeness sake, and as a resource to others, i'm including info about it below.

 

One more update for those with a morbid curiosity.

Over the past few weeks, the cardinal carried on like nothing was any different. Other than rapid breathing, it still swam, ate, and lived a very normal life. The growth actually continued to grow more and more, to the point where it was like full 2-3mm out of its body. It was disgusting, and I told myself I would give it another few days before I would euthanize it, when....

during one feeding session when the cardinal was swimming near the surface to eat, a bunch of other fish BIT THE GROWTH OFF ITS SIDE thinking it was food. I was horrified and disgusted. Thankfully most of growth remained uneaten as it fell to the bottom of the tank, afterwhich I removed it from the water.

Now the crazy part...this is what the cardinal looks like today.

https://imgur.com/a/E99LkG9

He no longer has rapid breathing, and he's looking the healthiest he's been since this whole episode started about 4 months ago.

 

One more update for those with a morbid curiosity.

Over the past few weeks, the cardinal carried on like nothing was any different. Other than rapid breathing, it still swam, ate, and lived a very normal life. The growth actually continued to grow more and more, to the point where it was like full 2-3mm out of its body. It was disgusting, and I told myself I would give it another few days before I would euthanize it, when....

during one feeding session when the cardinal was swimming near the surface to eat, a bunch of other fish BIT THE GROWTH OFF ITS SIDE thinking it was food. I was horrified and disgusted. Thankfully most of growth remained uneaten as it fell to the bottom of the tank, afterwhich I removed it from the water.

Now the crazy part...this is what the cardinal looks like today.

https://imgur.com/a/E99LkG9

He no longer has rapid breathing, and he's looking the healthiest he's been since this whole episode started about 4 months ago.

Craziness. That's all i can say. CRAZINESS!!!

Shoulda filmed it as a short horror flick!