Black Ghost Knife Fish Injury? /RMF 6/3/2011
Hello,
<Jaz>
I have a 14 inch Black Ghost, that I've had since he was 3 inches.
<Neat!>
I have him in a 60 gallon tank
<Mmm; needs more room than this>
with an Angel, a 4 inch Pictus, a 6 inch Pleco, 3 Siamensis, a Cory, 3 Rummies, a Rasbora and an unknown number of Assassin Snails.
<Mmm, if you had room I'd get more Pictus and Rasboras... as these are social/shoaling species>
These have all been tankmates for several years and except for some minor territorial squabbles between the Pleco, Pictus and Ghost (who all want to occupy the same driftwood cave),
<Yes; I'd have more than one>
everyone has gotten along quite well. The squabbles have never amounted to more than just some minor pushing to move one of the others out of the way.
A few weeks ago, the Ghost developed a wound on the bottom edge of his tail, which we attributed to a possible injury.
<Or aggression by the two cave-competitors more likely>
We watched it for a while and it seemed to get worse, to the point of the flesh being gone from several tiny bones. We also observed a Siamensis picking at it and one of the Assassin snails crawling over it. We isolated the Ghost and after a few days his tail healed and the flesh actually grew back. So we thought the Siamensis and Assassin were perhaps just being opportunistic as neither seemed to bother the Ghost any longer.
Then a few days ago, we noticed on the top of his neck a new wound, with a whitish area surrounding it about 1 and a half inches long. It's not totally white, just looks like someone took a white pencil and drew a big oblong circle around the affected area. We thought perhaps he scraped himself on something, but then just as the first wound seemed to be healing, another wound appeared close by.
At this point, we are not sure if the snails or any of the other fish are picking on him, or if this is the result of some kind of disease.
<Secondary>
We are afraid to treat him with anything as we know how sensitive Ghosts are. We have him isolated right now so that no one else can pick on him. He's eating fine, and mostly stays in his cave, though from time to time he will come out and hang out with his head at the top of the water - I know that's not a good sign. But he doesn't stay there.
My question: Is there any type of disease that would cause this?
<As stated, this is almost assuredly an injury from some other fish... but the SAEs and snails aren't the primary cause... and likely environment is playing a role... water quality tests? Perhaps at least "nitrate" and what it portends is "high">
Or are we safe in assuming it's from an injury?
<Third and last time, yes>
And could the Assassins be going after him, since he rests on the bottom of the tank most of the time? We got the Assassins because we had a terrible snail infestation. They've pretty much gotten rid of the other snails and had their own little population explosion, to the point where I've been selling them to our LFS for store credit at $1 a snail. (They turn around and sell them for $4 and can't keep them in stock.) I was wondering if because there are so many, and their main food source is gone, perhaps they are going after the Ghost.
<Doubtful, but I'd keep their numbers low... save up the snail et al. income to buy a larger world for the BGK>
Thank you for any advice/information you can give. I've tried Googling but haven't found a lot of information out there on Ghost injuries or Assassin Snail attacks.
Jaz
<Ours is posted here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/bgkdis.htm
Please do read through this FAQ and the linked files above re this Apteronotid sp.. Bob Fenner>
Black Ghost Knife Fish Injury?  /Neale 6/3/2011
Hello,
<Hello,>
I have a 14 inch Black Ghost, that I've had since he was 3 inches.
<Impressive! Few specimens live long enough to approach this size.>
I have him in a 60 gallon tank with an Angel, a 4 inch Pictus, a 6 inch Pleco, 3 Siamensis, a Cory, 3 Rummies, a Rasbora and an unknown number of Assassin Snails. These have all been tankmates for several years and except for some minor territorial squabbles between the Pleco, Pictus and Ghost (who all want to occupy the same driftwood cave), everyone has gotten along quite well. The squabbles have never amounted to more than just some minor pushing to move one of the others out of the way.
<Fair enough.>
A few weeks ago, the Ghost developed a wound on the bottom edge of his tail, which we attributed to a possible injury. We watched it for a while and it seemed to get worse, to the point of the flesh being gone from several tiny bones. We also observed a Siamensis picking at it and one of the Assassin snails crawling over it.
<I would imagine the snails opportunistically, since they eat decaying organic matter as well as living prey.>
We isolated the Ghost and after a few days his tail healed and the flesh actually grew back. So we thought the Siamensis and Assassin were perhaps just being opportunistic as neither seemed to bother the Ghost any longer.
<Quite so.>
Then a few days ago, we noticed on the top of his neck a new wound, with a whitish area surrounding it about 1 and a half inches long. It's not totally white, just looks like someone took a white pencil and drew a big oblong circle around the affected area. We thought perhaps he scraped himself on something, but then just as the first wound seemed to be healing, another wound appeared close by.
<Sounds as if he's sustaining some sort of injury. Possibly from fighting or fin-nipping, otherwise a burn if he sleeps close to the heater.>
At this point, we are not sure if the snails or any of the other fish are picking on him, or if this is the result of some kind of disease. We are afraid to treat him with anything as we know how sensitive Ghosts are.
<Quite so, but antibiotics should be safe. It's copper, formalin, and the other toxic medicines that cause problems, organic dyes for example.>
We have him isolated right now so that no one else can pick on him. He's eating fine, and mostly stays in his cave, though from time to time he will come out and hang out with his head at the top of the water - I know that's not a good sign. But he doesn't stay there.
<Oh.>
My question: Is there any type of disease that would cause this?
<None from which I'm aware, but do consider Hexamita, which can cause problems when fish are maintained sub-optimally. Your aquarium is probably too small for this fish now, in terms of oxygen concentration and nitrate accumulation as well as psychologically.>
Or are we safe in assuming it's from an injury?
<Certainly what I would assume.>
And could the Assassins be going after him, since he rests on the bottom of the tank most of the time? We got the Assassins because we had a terrible snail infestation. They've pretty much gotten rid of the other snails and had their own little population explosion, to the point where I've been selling them to our LFS for store credit at $1 a snail. (They turn around and sell them for $4 and can't keep them in stock.) I was wondering if because there are so many, and their main food source is gone, perhaps they are going after the Ghost.
<Possibly, but I don't think it likely. If you can remove them, by all means do so and see if that helps.>
Thank you for any advice/information you can give. I've tried Googling but haven't found a lot of information out there on Ghost injuries or Assassin Snail attacks.
<Not aware of Clea helena causing anything like this sort of damage. They are whelks, and their marine relatives don't seem to cause damage to fish in reef tanks, so I can't imagine the freshwater ones are any worse. Of course, if the Apteronotus is weakened, then yes, they're opportunistic carnivores that will consume whatever they can find.>
Jaz
<Cheers, Neale.>

Black ghost knife, possible tumor   2/26/10
Hello Neale, Bob, or whoever is receiving this, and thank you for the wonderful advice you've given me in the past.
<Happy to help.>
I have a 125 US gallon tank being filtered by two hang on the back type filters (I plan to add a canister filter in the near future-- I don't know for certain the gallons per hour of the hang on the back, but I know that it is "rated" for the tank size)
<These "ratings" are based on lightly stocked tanks where small fish like Neons are being kept. The larger the fish, the less reasonable the rating, and predatory fish in particular put an especially high ammonia loading on biological filters, while big herbivores can quickly overwhelm filters with the faeces and uneaten plant detritus they produce. This is why with big fish, experts recommend quite high turnover rates, 6, 8, or even 10 times the volume of the tank per hour. It's less about the actual water movement -- though that is helpful -- but more about having lots of filter capacity relative to the fish being kept.>
which is kept at 75-77 degrees, and has a pH of (approximately) 7.6.
<Fine.>
Inhabiting it are six 3" Metynnis argenteus, a 7" Mastacembelus armatus, a 5" Trichogaster microlepis, two large Botia kubotai, a 3" Ctenopoma acutirostre, and a 6" Apteronotus albifrons.
<These are broadly compatible fish, though I will observe that Loaches, Characins, Spiny Eels and Knifefish all enjoy stronger water currents than either Climbing Perch or Gouramis.>
I plan to increase the flow of water for the black ghost knife using a water circulation pump sometime this year. The tank is cycled (has been up and running for around four years) and the inhabitants have been living in it for around a month and a half. Everyone has done exceptionally well, being fed wet frozen bloodworms and krill, a small amount of flake, algae tablets, and cooked vegetables once a week (the type varies, but usually peas or green beans).
<Good.>
Recently, I've noticed that the Black ghost has had a small tumor like lump on the side of his body, near the head.
<It's less likely a tumour and more likely physical damage. Look to see if the "tumour" is one of these three things: [1] Something like an ulcer, being a bloody or raw meaty-looking open wound; or [2] a surface growth that is pink or some other colour different to the fish's skin, but not open, sore or bloody; or [3] a swelling below the skin, so that the growth is the same colour as the skin because it's something pushing up from underneath the skin. Item 1 is usually physical damage and subsequent infection, and needs treatment as per Finrot. Item 2 is usually viral and a reaction to water quality or some other environmental issue (e.g., heavy metals) such as Fish Pox and Lymphocystis. Goes away in time, assuming proper conditions. No actual treatment possible or necessary. Item 3 is a real tumour or cyst, may be benign or otherwise, and there's nothing much to be done.>
It's behavior seems normal, readily eating bloodworms, and maneuvering from hiding place to hiding place, occasionally coming out and searching for food. Unfortunately, I can't take a picture of the tumor, as the ghost mostly spends it's time up against something, effectively blocking view of the tumor. Whether this is a parasite, genetic deformity, or some other ailment, I don't know. Any help in identifying it would be greatly appreciated.
<See above.>
Also of note, my area experienced a power outage yesterday (snow storm, not scheduled), starting at approximately 4 o'clock in the morning. The tank went about three hours without power until it could be hooked up to a generator, though as far as I know, the temperature didn't drop below 72 degrees.
<Unlikely to be the issue here, unless physical damage caused by jumping into the hood or something when the lights came on/went off.>
Thank you, Jack. P.S.-- Neale, superb article on Rainbow fish in the March issue of aquarium fish monthly!
<Oh, that's nice to hear. Thanks for saying so. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Black ghost knife, possible tumor
Thank you for your quick reply and advice regarding my black ghost knife.
After reading your response, I think it may be one of the two things you mentioned; Either a) damage inflicted by one of the loaches competing for his hiding spot (Those eye spikes can be nasty... I know that first hand),
or b) caused by poor water quality, as you said. Or possibly both.
<Indeed.>
I'm thinking of treating the tank for Finrot with Maracyn plus, though I'm worried it might negatively effect the knife and tire track eel-- Should I try a half dose?
<Antibiotics should be safe at full dose. It's the copper and formalin based medications that cause problems.>
Also, I'm adding an Eshopps 1000 gallon per hour wet/dry filter coupled with a 1017 gallon per hour return pump (Enough flow for the ghost?).
<Should be. Aim for a turnover at least 6 times, ideally 8-10 times, the volume of the tank.>
I've never used wet-dry filters before, and assume the pump and filter is all I need to run it?
<Do read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/wetdryfaqs.htm
and linked articles. Bob F. is more of an expert on these than me. The ones I used were built into the tanks already.>
I'm doubling water changes, going from 40% once a week to 40% twice a week.
Hopefully, this should be enough to cure my black ghost knife.
Jack
<Cheers, Neale.>