Fathead Anthias : strange growth on cheek and mouth

[kevindo123]

The growth in the middle of the mouth appeared about 4 days after I received it. It may have been damaged during captured (I'm not sure). But the growth on the right cheek is new and I just noticed it today.

I have been mixing Nitrofuracin Green Power as instructed and adding it into QT after 25% water change daily. I have been medicating it in QT for ~5 days and its not getting better.

Any ideas how to better treat this?

 

[Humblefish]

Is it a growth on the inside or outside of the mouth? I can't tell for sure from the pics.

 

[kevindo123]

The one at the middle of mouth seems to be external. The one on the cheek area is internal.

 

[Humblefish]

Could be Lymphocystis, as it can grow both externally and internally.

Lymphocystis:

Symptoms - Lymphocystis appears as a white or beige colored cauliflower-like growth that usually starts on the fins and spines and sometimes spreads to the body. Initially it may be small (looks like ich), and then grows in size (which is how you know it’s not ich). Lympho is a virus that many fish carry for life. Fortunately, it is rarely fatal or even harmful to the fish, and symptoms will come and go.

Treatment options - No known cure or treatment exists. However, feeding vitamin-enriched foods and maintaining pristine water conditions may expedite the “going away” process.

 

[kevindo123]

Thanks. I will keep up with water changes and feeding it with vitachem/selcon soaked foods.

Here is another close up shot. Hopefully more clearer.

 

[Humblefish]

Could also be a tumor growth.

 

[kevindo123]

Update:

The growth in the middle of the mouth seems to have reduced and you can see the mouth now without the white growth. The mouth still looks a little deformed.

The lump on the cheek area remains the same and seems to be have swollen more. Could internal fluke or bugs attacking it?

 

[melypr1985]

Have you tried Epsom salt to bring the swelling down? It might be worth a try


Epsom Salt: Treats eye and other injuries. Popeye in one eye usually means injury, but popeye in both eyes usually denotes a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. Cloudy eye can be a bacterial infection or flukes.

How To Treat - 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of aquarium water. Repeat only once, if necessary. Use only “USP” grade Epsom salt.

Pros - Reef safe, as Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate.

Cons/Side Effects - The effects of excessive sulfate in a reef aquarium are not fully known.

 

[Humblefish]

Could internal fluke or bugs attacking it?

Flukes only target the gills and sometimes the skin. Internal parasites mostly remain confined to the intestines. My gut tells me this is Lymphocystis; just a very bad area for it to happen.

 

[kevindo123]

Update:

I moved the fish to a bigger QT tank, hoping it will have better water quality. While doing so I captured some more close up shots of the infected area. Not sure if its getting worst but I can clearly see white growth coming out on the left cheek and now some has appeared on the body as well near the tail area. It seems to be growing from the inside and coming out of the scales. It looks like the initial diagnose is correct and it seems to be Lymphocystis .

I did dose Magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salt) the other day.

 

[Tahoe61]

Kind of looks like a nodule from Mycobacterium marinum.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I'm a little turned around because of the angle, but what is the little white area down by the anus? The the skin is a little paled-out around it.

 

[Humblefish]

Kind of looks like a nodule from Mycobacterium marinum.

Possible, but IME it's almost impossible to distinguish this from Lympho without a scope ID. Below are two good articles - one scholarly, the other easy reading - on the subject:

http://fisheries.tamu.edu/files/201...No.-4706-Mycobacterial-Infections-of-Fish.pdf

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/sp/feature/

 

[kevindo123]

I'm a little turned around because of the angle, but what is the little white area down by the anus? The the skin is a little paled-out around it.

It a little farther up the anus area.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

But what is it? It there something sticking out?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Just so we're all on the same page.