This was stuck in my fish...

For a couple days, I noticed a large, white lump sticking out of one of my black neon tetras right around where the anus is. Today, out of concern, I took it out of the tank and very, very gently helped take it out. When I put it back in the water, it was a little dazed, but quickly returned to normal and is swimming perfectly fine with the rest of the tetras.

Anyway, I have no idea what this is that was stuck.




I may have an idea, however. One of my tetras was eggbound for about a week (this happened before a long time ago and everything turned out ok so I left her be) and she went back to normal. I have a feeling this is the same one and she had some leftover stuff from inside that simply got stuck.

But if anyone else knows what it actually is, (and if I actually did the right thing) please let me know.

 

That flared shape at the top left is making me think it's a worm, but I don't have any practical knowledge to back that feeling up.

 

So I was out for a couple hours and I came home and checked on the tetra and noticed it now has some sort of injury on both sides of it's body...





I'm starting to fear that I hurt it on accident...

 

It looks like some tissue or organ from the fish. I hope not though.

 

A white lump protruding from the anus could have been a prolapse. I've never heard of someone removing it though.

 

It looks like some tissue or organ from the fish. I hope not though.

I'm honestly afraid that you are correct...I feel terrible now if that's the case, I didn't meant to cause it harm...

 

I'm honestly afraid that you are correct...I feel terrible now if that's the case, I didn't meant to cause it harm...

You meant well. It might not have anything to do with what you did either. Let’s hope it heals.

 

You meant well. It might not have anything to do with what you did either. Let’s hope it heals.

Seconding the sentiment that you meant well! If it was the wrong move, that's unfortunate, but please don't beat yourself up!

I just looked at a few photos of fish dissections, and I do have to say that the intestine is the same color as whatever it is that you removed from the fish. Perhaps not the news anyone wants to hear, but maybe it'll prevent anyone else having to look at photos of fish intestine :/

 

A white lump protruding from the anus could have been a prolapse. I've never heard of someone removing it though.

Seconding the sentiment that you meant well! If it was the wrong move, that's unfortunate, but please don't beat yourself up!

Thank you both. Upon further inspection, it was coming out of well...whatever you wanna call the part of the fish where eggs come from (ovipositor?).

I guess all I can do is keep an eye on it. It's pretty much hanging out at the bottom, but will swim up to join the other tetras occasionally. I'm guessing, if this is the one that was swollen with eggs, she had some complications...

 

I've actually been doing a bit of further research since I now know this might have been a prolapse. I have a theory that it was a ovarian prolapse. According to this article, removing the ovarian tissue (which is probably what I removed) is the best option to deal with it (I would hope so, since removing something more vital like intestines probably would have killed her by now).

Well I'm keeping my fingers crossed since she's currently happily swimming with the school right now.

 

Fingers crossed for your fishy!

 

According to this article, removing the ovarian tissue (which is probably what I removed) is the best option to deal with it (I would hope so, since removing something more vital like intestines probably would have killed her by now).

Let’s hope your surgery went well then !

Did you cut the tissue or pull on it ? Success rates would probablt be higher if you managed to cut it.

 

I wouldn't blame anybody for trying to help their fish. I have helped many back to health.

It seems there was something seriously wrong with this fish which is why help was needed and attempted.

Its always a risk to intervene but not necessarily wrong.

With wild animals they say to let nature take its course but with our pets we are responsible for them not nature.

 

Terrible news, it didn't make it.

I've been crying nonstop, I feel absolutely horrible, I consider these guys my babies...

I'm so sorry sweetheart, I really thought I was helping you. I should have left you be...

I can tell the other tetras are upset, they didn't swim up to me when I fed them. They probably don't trust me anymore.

 

Terrible news, it didn't make it.

I've been crying nonstop, I feel absolutely horrible, I consider these guys my babies...

I'm so sorry sweetheart, I really thought I was helping you. I should have left you be...

I can tell the other tetras are upset, they didn't swim up to me when I fed them. They probably don't trust me anymore.

Hope you're feeling a bit better after a difficult morning. I'm sorry to hear your tetra didn't make it, but now you know more and will be able to better care for all your future fish!

The others will be just fine, and back to their hungry, sociable selves soon. They don't understand the cause and effect. I'm sure they're just skittish because of the "strange" attention the tank's been getting as you worked on diagnosing and helping their schoolmate.

 

Hope you're feeling a bit better after a difficult morning. I'm sorry to hear your tetra didn't make it, but now you know more and will be able to better care for all your future fish!

The others will be just fine, and back to their hungry, sociable selves soon. They don't understand the cause and effect. I'm sure they're just skittish because of the "strange" attention the tank's been getting as you worked on diagnosing and helping their schoolmate.

I'm still pretty heartbroken about it, but I'm a bit better. It might take me a bit to fully recover since I keep tearing up thinking about it. The fact that I pretty much killed it was what's been really hitting me the hardest.

 

I'm still pretty heartbroken about it, but I'm a bit better. It might take me a bit to fully recover since I keep tearing up thinking about it. The fact that I pretty much killed it was what's been really hitting me the hardest.

You did what you thought was best. There is only one way this hobby moves forward and evolves. It's by trying things. We draw upon knowledge and experience to make the best decision we can. It works or it doesn't. Either way, we learn.

It doesn't make it any easier knowing this right at the moment. But, it will. And the way you're feeling shows how much you care - that in itself shows you acted in what you thought was the best interest of your fish.