true percula with disease.. help please

[5.0Stang]

i got a true a few months ago it's been fine up until a couple days ago.. it has something wrong with it's lip, it's mouth is always stuck open in an oval shape and his lips are white more like a sideways oval and it kinda keeps to it's self.. it does eat everytime i feed but there's definitely something worong with its lip.. i tried to get a pic but its not the best at all sorry.. if anyone can make out the pic or help out it woule be appreciated.. ause i think hes going to die soon it has strayed away from all the other fish and stayed in its own top corner.. all water levels are fine and all other fsh are doing great.. its a 100 gallon with 5 other small fish but all levels are good

[ClownReef®]

There was a really good thread about fish diseases, i'm sure it would have been of great help since what your fish has was discussed.

Your clown seems to be having a case of Lymphocystis. I had that happen to a clown once (perc). His lip fell right off. I couldn't treat fast enough, he died within a day. Its a fungal infection and i'd love to help you treat, but please IM me..i'd love to help you out.

[Richard]

I don't think that is lymphocystis. Which is a viral disease so meds won't work. True fungal infections are extremely rare in saltwater.

I have seen that problem only a few times and have never successfully treated it since I'm not sure what it is. There is no mention of it in Noga's book (the bible of fish diseases). There was a discussion on RC some time ago (year or two ago) and the general concensus of the fish disease guru's was that it was some type of bacterial infection. I believe they were recommending treatment with a furan compound, like Bifuran or Furan II. I have not seen that problem since I read that thread so can't give any experience on whether the treatment works or not.

[ClownReef®]

Reason why i mentioned Lymphocystis is because of the growth that the fish appears to have it its mouth (the clown i mentioned had the same growth..). but then again, im not a marine biologist..And as a viral disease theres not much you can do..

My only guess at this point is a fungal infection. Im glad you mentioned Bifuran (its a very well rounded medication). Thats what i used to treat my clown, but his mouth just fell right off. It had that white growth, swollen look. My best advice is, check the water parameters are stable..(check for ammonia).. At best, it could be an injury, those often heal by themselves.

EDIT: If its eating as usual, you have some advantage. See how it progresses and if you can post a clearer picture. Thanks!

[Richard]

Clownfish don't seem to get lymphocystis very often. I can't recall ever seeing a clown with lympho. It's very common on angels, butterflies, and some other fish. Typically on a fish with lymphocystis it will start on the edges of the fins then progress to the lateral line and then to the head region. Once it progresses that far there is a very high mortality rate. In the earlier stages I have found that a sudden increase in water quality will "jump start" the fishes immunity and they will usually recover very rapidly, often within a day. So when I have fish that get it I just do a large water change (50% +) and it usually goes away rapidly. Some (like Bob Fenner) recommend picking at the cottony growth with tweezers to stimulate an immune response but I've always ended up with a dead fish when I tried that.

The pic is a little blurry but it appears to me that the white "growth" on the clown is actually necrotic tissue.

[ClownReef®]

My thoughts exactly Richard. My post mentioned that Lympho is indeed an angel's bug..much like Brook is a clown bug but any fish can be susceptible. I had a picture on the post that showed an angel with a huge cauliflower growth in its mouth (i really don't think this is the case, but i can see the cottonish growth you mention).

About the water change/water condition.. People dont know the good impact this can have on a fish. Much like a very common case of pop eye. In many cases (if its not caused by an injury or an infection) it is cause by less than desirable water conditions. I remember a long time ago, i had a big, fat perc female.. She came down with a case of pop eye (just one eye). Did a big water change..the eye was back to its original size..