Loaches Online Forum

I have a 6" clown loach that has this big bubble forming under his skin. I'm not sure what to do as I'm having a hard time finding anything related to this. I though it was air bubbles under his skin so I turned down the flow to the air stones.
He is my only one as I inherited this tank from a friend of mine when he moved out of state.
I just treated for ick about a month and half ago. Him and all of his tank mates were happy for a few weeks. Then my 2 Betas suddenly spazzed out and died. He acted weird for a day or 2 after that and then seemed fine.
About a week later he started not coming out of the castle and earlier this week I noticed a good size lump on his side. I just bought a small 5 gallon I'm setting up this weekend to transfer him into to treat. I'm just not sure what to treat it looks like a big tumor. He is breathing heavy all of the time and acts crazy if i try to get him out of the castle
He was the only reason I took the tank. I have been preparing to setup a 55 gallon tank until I can get a stand for my 90 gallon. This way I can get him a few friends and he can stop hanging out with the 2 Plecos all the time.
Help i don't want to lose him.

Hi couger, welcome to Loaches.

This does not sound too good
Fish can grow tumors just about anywhere. Depending on location the tumor can get quite large, but eventually it will interfere with eating, breathing or something. At this point euthanasia is the only option.

Fish can have problems with excess gas dissolved in the water, but it is not usually caused by air bubblers. I have seen this in my own tanks when the cold water is very cold (in winter) and as the water warms the gas molecules come together and become bubbles. It is especially bad for the fish when these bubbles form in the gills.
This does not sound like what is going on with your fish, though.

I will try to fish him out of the castle tomorrow so I can post some pics. It wasn't there about a month ago when the Betas died. I just don't understand how it could have gotten so big so quick.
I was in a car accident a few weeks back and haven't been able to check on him myself so it wasn't until today I saw the lump. I just thought he was hiding out.
This sucks I don't want to have to put him down.

Pictures would be great!
I hope you are feeling better after the car wreck.

Try to get him out of the castle with bloodworms they really help and the more space and friends the better look up loaches on google or ask it might help

allialli, no need to look up Loaches on Google, you are already at the premier site for Loach information.