Huge lump on side of white cloud minnow - any ideas?

[fruittea]

DS has had these for about a year now. Over the last couple of weeks a huge lump has come up on the side of one of the fish. It's the size of a very large pea, on one side only, near the tail end, and the skin looks almost transparent over it - you can pretty much see fishy's insides.

I spoke to the guy at the garden centre and he wasn't sure - he wondered if it was pregnant? He didn't think any treatment would help, although I've popped some "disease clear" in there. I don't know much about it, but it doesn't look like a "healthy" lump to me - it looks like it's fit to burst.

Does anyone have any ideas what this might be? I'm wondering whether I should euthenise before it bursts, but am loathe to in case it's something treatable.

It's still swimming about with its mates and eating a bit.

Thanks

It's something cysty I think. I've had similar on my guppies as they got older.

Have never successfully treated it, but it doesn't seem to be contagious - just one of those things, a genetic weakness possibly. I let nature take its course and they can swim along quite happily for a long while before it finishes them off.

If you do go the euthanize route, then I can recommend placing in a cup of half tank water/half vodka. It's quick and humane.

Doing some research, could be a bacterial infection which has caused an absess. Try melafix and/or pimafix which are natural antibacterials (make sure you follow dosage on the bottle and remove any carbon in your filter while treating).

Though as I say, when my guppies have had them, they haven't responded to treatment, sadly

Thank you. I tried googling and didn't manage to find anything myself. Will try the products you mention, will I need to take the poorly fish out of the tank and keep him separately?

Otherwise thanks for the vodka tip

No, I don't remove them. 1) I don't have a hospital tank. 2) if it is a bacterial infection then better to treat the rest at the same time. You might not save the sickly fish, but may help boost the immunity of the healthy ones.