Illness/Sickness: New Greater Siren - Tumors or Parasites?

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Catnkit

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So I have a Greater Siren as a temporary house guest (he better be temporary... If I fall in love I'm screwed), and I have seen him every few months for years. He's had this unusual grey matter on his head forever, it gets slightly bigger over the years and the unusual orange cyst-looking things are kinda new to me but likely have been there, slowly appearing.


Does anyone have any idea what these could be? If they are tumors, then, well there's not much I can do about that. But if this is a parasite or a fungus I need to know, because I have another siren in another tank and I need to know how paranoid I should be.


Any info would be helpful! Ready to answer questions as detailed as I can.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=36&v=W7iiiyEk99I
 
I don't think it's a parasite problem, but I've never seen anything quite like it on an amphibian.
If I had to guess I'd say it's more likely to be a long term viral problem, or as you say, some kind of tumour, maybe related to old age. He looks very healthy apart from the lumps, does he ever seen irritated by them? The grey part reminds me a lot of carp pox, but I doubt amphibians can get that. I think the only way of knowing for sure would be a trip to a good exotics vet.
 
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I've posted this question to six different sources since Thursday and you're the only person to bother answering so far. Thanks :)

He doesn't seem to notice them, although I've only actually had him for just under two days. I've seen it progress though over the years when I would visit the building he was in. I don't know if we have any vets that would deal with salamanders, but I could try asking some exotic stores I suppose...

My biggest worry (since whatever it is, it's not exactly moving quickly) is that this might be communicable and it could get into my other tanks, one of which has frogs and a second of which has another siren :/
 
Every time I try to look at my video it starts at 0:36 seconds. Did it do that for you?
 
Please find attached a link that may help you to find a specialist vet in your area.
I hope that it helps, and please keep us posted on your progress.
Herp Veterinarians
 
Thanks for the link :) I have to wait until mnday to call the one where I am, but hopefully they can help (but not bankrupt me... I have bad experiences with vets and small critters).
 
Catnkit said:
Every time I try to look at my video it starts at 0:36 seconds. Did it do that for you?
Click to expand...

It does! I don't know how you managed that!
Regarding exotics vets, you could try calling a good regular vet in your general area and ask them who they recommend, that's how i found my vets :)
I should have said, keep him under strict quarentine conditions if you keep other amphibians until you know what you're dealing with.

Btw, i rekon you're screwed, i don't think i could part with him if he came to stay at mine! ;)
 
I guess I'll do that, although I'm gonna have a hard time if anyone wants me to bring him somewhere. He'll get stressed out too!

And yeah, I might be in trouble, I'm definitely falling in love T-T Problem is that I'm already maxxed out on tanks!
 
....Problem is that I'm already maxxed out on tanks![/QUOTE]

He, he, aren't we all! ;)
 
He does... I really hope this is just some kind of long-term irritation or nutritional thing somehow (he lived at the pet store for years). No real ailment. But I doubt we're that lucky >> I'm just so nervous that it could be contagious. I've already accidentally affected my shrimp tank by putting the assassin snails riding home with the siren in there. It would have to be pretty nasty to jump from siren to snail within the hour they were in contact but nasty is what I'm afraid of.

Edit: apparently his water was never really changed. For years possibly. But I still noticed at least one little nodule when I first laid eyes on him which can't have been long after he arrived at the store.
 
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