Elderly shubunkin

[sue gorman]

We have an elderly shubunkin in the garden pond which has developed a large white, semi-translucent growth on his back. Can anyone tell us what it is and, hopefully, how we can treat it?

[Schutzengel]

Are you able to take the shubunkin out of the pond, and put it in a tank. If so you could try treating the water (in the tank) with methylene blue, or similar fungus treatment, obtainable from acquaria shops, or some of the better pet shops. Hope you are able to safe him/it. Good luck.

[kevo2k7]

sounds like Fungus (Saprolegnia)

Symptoms: Tufts of dirty, cotton-like growth on the skin, can cover large areas of the fish, fish eggs turn white.

Fungal attacks always follow some other health problem like parasitic attack, injury, or bacterial infection. The symptoms are a gray or whitish growth in and on the skin and/or fins of the fish. Eventually, if left untreated, these growths will become cottony looking. The fungus, if left untreated, will eventually eat away on the fish until it finally dies.
more info here and treatments http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/informat ion/Diseases.htm#Fungus
good luck hope he/she gets better

[sue gorman]

Thanks so much Schutzengel and kevo2k7. We shall follow your advice and do our best for the poor fish. Will write again if we have success. Happy New Year.