Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate between 40-60ppm, pH 7.8, temp. 76 F.

Fish WAS in 56 gallon tank with 4 other fish. Flutter is a 3 year old red and white ryukin - 7 inches big, male.

Flutter has a patch of raised or swollen scales at the base of his tail and a streak on his tail. These appeared within the last 24 hours. The swollen scales and the streak are a pronounced yellowish color. On examination, they appear rather hard, not soft or squishy to the touch. He is not in any distress - fins are up, he is active and eating normally. There has been no unusual activity in the tank, no new fish, no new ornaments. The only thing different is last week I only did ONE water change instead of two, and the nitrates got to at least 60ppm. They are now at <40ppm.

I have isolated Flutter in a 10 gallon tupperware tub. It is zero across the board on all water parameters for it is uncycled. I will use biospira if necessary, but antibiotic treatment may preclude that. I have a filter but no airpump at this time. I have swiped a heater from another tank to heat the water - sending it to 82 degrees as soon as it can.

Any ideas for treatment? MediGold or water-absorbable antibiotics (Kanacyn or such) or just salt? Anything else anyone can think of?

Could this be a fish pox? I will attempt to get a picture but it is very difficult to do so by myself.

I would be curious to see a picture, if you can possibly get one. It isn't something that I have seen before, but I could look in my books

After combing all the books and sites that I have found, what I am seeing on my fish, Flutter, matches NOTHING there. It is not carp pox. It is not an injury that I can determine (came on quickly and shows no skin breakage), it is not dropsy (affects a 1 sq.cm area and a stripe on the tail), it is not fluffy or mushy (it is hard - harder than the surrounding scales). I can see nothing unusual in a skin scraping.

The fish is the picture of health - acting and responding and looking absolutely GREAT, except for this strange yellowish bumpy area and the yellow streak in his tail.

What the heck is this? How di I treat it? Is is contagious?

I will try as soon as some family comes home and will help me. It will take one to hold the fish and one to snap the shot, as he is now in an opaque tupperware tub in the power room.

Thanks.