COPPERBAND BUTTERFLYFISH MOUTH WART LIKE GROWTH...URGENT!!

[Leonidas1453]

My copperband butterflyfish has these mouth growths which initially was only one now there are 3 growths around his mouth...making it very difficult for him to eat....i thought it was lymphocystes and it will fall but its been 20 days nothing has happened im worried hell die if he stops eating hes already thin...these are the best pictures i could get any help would be appreciated

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedics

 

[akaps]

#fishmedics

 

[Leonidas1453]

#fishmedics

 

[Ajayabb]

Probably lymphocystis which these fish are prone to. Someone else will chime in, but hopefully self limited and doesn’t affect the fish’s ability to eat

 

[Jay Hemdal]

My copperband butterflyfish has these mouth growths which initially was only one now there are 3 growths around his mouth...making it very difficult for him to eat....i thought it was lymphocystes and it will fall but its been 20 days nothing has happened im worried hell die if he stops eating hes already thin...these are the best pictures i could get any help would be appreciated

The pictures aren't super clear, but this has all the hallmarks of Lymphocystis. Oddly, I would expect to see some of these lesions elsewhere on the fish, but I don't.

Lymphocystis is a mild viral disease, EXCEPT when the mouth is involved and it affects the way a fish can feed. In those cases, it can prove to be fatal. There is no treatment, and it can take 2 months for the lesions to subside (most do so in 6 weeks though).

How long have you had the fish?

 

[Leonidas1453]

The pictures aren't super clear, but this has all the hallmarks of Lymphocystis. Oddly, I would expect to see some of these lesions elsewhere on the fish, but I don't.

Lymphocystis is a mild viral disease, EXCEPT when the mouth is involved and it affects the way a fish can feed. In those cases, it can prove to be fatal. There is no treatment, and it can take 2 months for the lesions to subside (most do so in 6 weeks though).

How long have you had the fish?

I have had the fish for 20days now....its affecting the feeding he has difficulty in catching the food but hes still getting it....should i try and scrape it out so that it can help with the feeding?...hes still in feeding condition...but hes thin i can see his spine...he was like that from the time i got him...he eats bloodworms brine and mysis.

 

[Leonidas1453]

The pictures aren't super clear, but this has all the hallmarks of Lymphocystis. Oddly, I would expect to see some of these lesions elsewhere on the fish, but I don't.

Lymphocystis is a mild viral disease, EXCEPT when the mouth is involved and it affects the way a fish can feed. In those cases, it can prove to be fatal. There is no treatment, and it can take 2 months for the lesions to subside (most do so in 6 weeks though).

How long have you had the fish?

If i should scrape it with what should i try to scrape the wart?

 

[vetteguy53081]

My copperband butterflyfish has these mouth growths which initially was only one now there are 3 growths around his mouth...making it very difficult for him to eat....i thought it was lymphocystes and it will fall but its been 20 days nothing has happened im worried hell die if he stops eating hes already thin...these are the best pictures i could get any help would be appreciated

Was its mouth sore upon purchase? These fish are very susceptible to netting damage when you get an employee that is less than nice with netting procedure. I ve not seen much with Lympho on the mouth first before fins but Jay made a good point on lympho. While you indicated that its been 20 days, if water is less than ideal, especially ammonia and/or nitrate levels are elevated, it will support lympho.
How are you testing the water ?
At times you can attempt to net fish with a FINE, not coarse net and the cauliflower like objects will loosen or fall off but realize it will also stress the fish

 

[Leonidas1453]

Was its mouth sore upon purchase? These fish are very susceptible to netting damage when you get an employee that is less than nice with netting procedure. I ve not seen much with Lympho on the mouth first before fins but Jay made a good point on lympho. While you indicated that its been 20 days, if water is less than ideal, especially ammonia and/or nitrate levels are elevated, it will support lympho.
How are you testing the water ?
At times you can attempt to net fish with a FINE, not coarse net and the cauliflower like objects will loosen or fall off but realize it will also stress the fish

I only saw videos of the fish eating before buying it...in one video he had spots i asked the seller he told itll go off and it did when i bought him home...after 3 days he developed some spots....n i noticed some head twitching...he stopped eating...so i did a freshwater dip...after that he was fine eating gud....i built a feeding device too bcz he was thin...so that he gets enough food...the device i made was by drilling holes in a pvc pipe...the edges were a bit rough...but he ate from it just fine....then he developed these growth on the mouth around 7 days from the purchase and the growth has spread around the mouth now to the point he has difficulty eating.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I only saw videos of the fish eating before buying it...in one video he had spots i asked the seller he told itll go off and it did when i bought him home...after 3 days he developed some spots....n i noticed some head twitching...he stopped eating...so i did a freshwater dip...after that he was fine eating gud....i built a feeding device too bcz he was thin...so that he gets enough food...the device i made was by drilling holes in a pvc pipe...the edges were a bit rough...but he ate from it just fine....then he developed these growth on the mouth around 7 days from the purchase and the growth has spread around the mouth now to the point he has difficulty eating.

You addressed this and have videos- Bring this to the attention of seller as you showed concern and he assured it would heal which it has not.
They can at least exchange it for you. Moving forward - Quarantine your fish especially a delicate one such as this guy. The device you built can certainly cause injury to its forceps like mouth.
How are you testing water?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have had the fish for 20days now....its affecting the feeding he has difficulty in catching the food but hes still getting it....should i try and scrape it out so that it can help with the feeding?...hes still in feeding condition...but hes thin i can see his spine...he was like that from the time i got him...he eats bloodworms brine and mysis.

You really shouldn't try surgery unless you have an anesthetic like MS-222. The stress and risk of infection is just too high. If the fish is getting any food, I would just keep trying to feed it small pieces, multiple times a day.

 

[Leonidas1453]

Im using salifert test kits ammonia nitrates phosphates are normal.all my other fishes are doing great.
About the seller he quarantines the fishes he told this guy has gone through metro prazi pro he has had him for 14 days before i got him. When i got him he didn't have any spots..so the seller mostly wont take him back.

You addressed this and have videos- Bring this to the attention of seller as you showed concern and he assured it would heal which it has not.
They can at least exchange it for you. Moving forward - Quarantine your fish especially a delicate one such as this guy. The device you built can certainly cause injury to its forceps like mouth.
How are you testing water?

 

[Leonidas1453]

You really shouldn't try surgery unless you have an anesthetic like MS-222. The stress and risk of infection is just too high. If the fish is getting any food, I would just keep trying to feed it small pieces, multiple times a day.

Im a doctor myself...so i have done surgeries before on humans...never on fishes...n ur very right about the stress and infection part...ill keep the fish in untill he keeps eating..thank you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im using salifert test kits ammonia nitrates phosphates are normal.all my other fishes are doing great.
About the seller he quarantines the fishes he told this guy has gone through metro prazi pro he has had him for 14 days before i got him. When i got him he didn't have any spots..so the seller mostly wont take him back.

14 days is a quick quarantine and always even with quarantined fish do your own quarantine for at least 14 days to assure you are not introducing anything foreign into your tank. Quarantining from others assures fish MAY be free of disease, but stressors such as netting, temperature changes and shared tank systems add risk