Possible tumor on valentini puffer?

[carlson]

Not sure what's going on with my puffer, I've had this guy for over a year and I just noticed this large jump on his side today. He has a never ending appetite and eats everything. No unusual behavior. It's kind of hard to tell when the bump is in the picture but I'll circle it for reference. Although he picks at corals and kills any inverts that enter the tank, he's one of my favorite fish. Thanks!

 

[carlson]

I know how useful photos are..

 

[carlson]

He always has a lumpy underside after he eats a lot, but for now this appears to be permanent. It's hard to see in the pictures but it's very apparent in person

 

[eatbreakfast]

TBH I'm having trouble seeing it clearly in the pics. Does it seem to be under the "skin" or external? Is it discolored? Is it always there or only sometimes?

 

[mort]

If I'm seeing it correctly it looks like a swelling under the skin with no skin surface damage. If that's true it rules out simple causes such as scrapes and is more likely an internal problem.

 

[carlson]

If I'm seeing it correctly it looks like a swelling under the skin with no skin surface damage. If that's true it rules out simple causes such as scrapes and is more likely an internal problem.

Yes, it's a bulge under the skin with no discoloration. Do you think metroplex and focus could help?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I don't think its a parasite, just a growth. Not much you can do, just observe.

 

[mort]

I don't think its a parasite, just a growth. Not much you can do, just observe.

Completely agree. Sometimes growths occur that we can't do anything about. These lumps might be something nasty but could equally be something less sinister, you'll probably never know without a biopsy. Watch it and see if anything changs but whilst the fish looks happy and healthy don't worry to much.

 

[carlson]

I don't think its a parasite, just a growth. Not much you can do, just observe.

Alright thanks! It's kinda of frustrating [emoji23] I have just about every type of medicine for every common marine problem I could run into but I can't do anything about this ..

 

[JMT2282]

My humpback puffer had the same thing happen, but we had Kong for 2 years before the lump showed up. We used a complete container of metropolis over a period of a week. After about day 5 a small worm looking stringy thing appeared from the hole. The lump began getting smaller and looked much better. Every day another little bit would come out and fall off until the lump was almost non existent. It reminded me of a giant zit that needed to just pop. I believe it was just a cyst or what a human would get, called a cheese tumor. It definitely wasn't a parasite or worm even though it did burst and kind of look like pieces of worm protruding out from his skin. I believe a 50% water change and the Metropolis was exactly what he needed!