What is wrong with my V Bifa lip?

[NOLAGT]

This guy/tank has been doing great. On like wed last week I noticed this one breathing short and fast but looked normal. Then friday I noticed his lip looked out of whack...breathing the same...mouth staying more open and thrashing his head some. Today his mouth is open red looking bump/spore on the inside and outside of the mouth closer to the corner. Still doing the thrashing thing too. Eats fine and swims around pretty normal too. Think its a soar from a lip locking battle with someone else in the tank or something more?

Here are two vids that show the lip and the thrashing.


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[white15]

I have seen that before. Usually it happens when a fish is trying to pick up a piece of gravel when going for food and gets a cut in its mouth. Since it has an open wound, an infection happens. I would treat with salt, warm water, and water changes. I don't believe you need to isolate the fish. This is only my guess.

 

[NOLAGT]

I am kinda leaning to the injury thing since there is a wound on the inside and outside of the mouth. It almost looks like some heated lip lock maybe? They are kinda jammed in a 125 for now...im waiting on a 374 to get built for them...theres a few fish in that tank.

Any other opinions welcome please.

 

[Pharaoh]

I'd bet it is an injury from fighting. Just do a little preventative salting and such and he should be OK.

 

[Madness]

Well I hope you are correct. When my Dovii got like that I did tons of research. From everything I read and was told, it wasnt a good out come. Basically the fish gets a wound in the mouth, and due to sifting through the dirty gravel, it gets infected. Everything I read, points to flexibacter columnaris. Unfortunately once the lips protrude the fish is not far from death. But you say he still eats. Thats good. What I ended up doing is putting my Dovii into a strong salt/fungus bath for 45 min to an hour. While he was in there, I did a very thorough cleaning of the gravel and wood in the tank. Changed out 75% of the water, lowered the temp to 75 degrees, (columnaris can not survive in the lower temp) and treated the tank with potassium permanganate. This worked well for me, and the infection in his mouth was almost gone in a day or 2. But I would suggest doing something soon.

 

[Madness]

Also if it was lip locking with another fish, wouldnt there be signs of damage to his lips? From the video, it looks like there isnt any.

 

[NOLAGT]

I did a 40% change today gravel vacing and will do another tomorrow. He still eats so far. His lip look a little cocked...like if your looking dead on at him on the right where the soar is. I'll see how it looks tomorrow and try to get some still shots.

 

[NOLAGT]

Still eating...the wounds havent gotten any bigger...or smaller...but they are not as red as they were so maybe its slowly getting better.

 

[NOLAGT]

Ok his lip seems to be getting better but I am having some other spots pop up on some other fish. Maybe you are right madness and its spreading? I am thinking some sort of fungus/bacteria infection since I have not added any fish to the tank in a while and I had previously hit the tank hard with De Los to rid of any parasites. The tank (6' 125g) is more than likely over crowded (but filtered with 2 ac110's and a fx5) as I am waiting on the new tank (8' 374g) to arrive and I have read that those conditions can sometimes lead to things like this maybe? I have done 3 30-40% water changes the last few days but the spots are not getting any better (is in the bifa mouth tho). All the fish are still eating. The spots dont necessarily look just a fuzzy spot but some sort of growth maybe slight fuzz and you can see a spot on the one side fin. I think I might hit the tank with fungus clear tabs by jungle that have Nitrofurazone, Furazolidone, and potassium dichromate. Says good for some fungus and bacteria infections...any thoughts? Or would melifix/pimafix be better to start with.


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[NOLAGT]

Here are some pics. First is how the bifa mouth looks now...much better than when first spotted. Not sure if its the same as whats on the other fish....well really the bcorts that I can tell.