Big white lump on wrasses head

[ReefWithCare]

Any idea what this is? It doesn’t look like ich or velvet. The wrasse is an insane eater right now. Easily could eat a cube of food on its own and barely 3” in size.

https://streamable.com/quh65

He doesn’t flash or scratch.

 

[saltyhog]

Looks like an injury to me but I guess it could be a bacterial infection. I would watch him closely and pull him to treat with antibiotics if his behavior changes or new spots appear.

 

[ReefWithCare]

@Humblefish ? Any idea?

 

[Vahanyos]

My melanurus had something very similar looking but on his chin ... completely opposite to yours. Couldn’t figure out what it was, and went away in a couple days with proper nutrition. Interesting

 

[ReefWithCare]

Anyone else with additional insights? I am supplementing with Selcon and Beta Glucan starting yesterday in frozen Mysis Shrimp. No changes in behavior from him. Still eating like a champ this morning.

 

[Humblefish]

Looks like an injury to me but I guess it could be a bacterial infection. I would watch him closely and pull him to treat with antibiotics if his behavior changes or new spots appear.

My melanurus had something very similar looking but on his chin ... completely opposite to yours. Couldn’t figure out what it was, and went away in a couple days with proper nutrition. Interesting

+1 To these comments. I would start soaking his food with a vitamin supplement to help expedite the healing process: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/vitamins-herbal-remedies.304287/

Wrasses have thick slime coats, so I wouldn't be too worried about that small of an abrasion becoming infected.

 

[ReefWithCare]

+1 To these comments. I would start soaking his food with a vitamin supplement to help expedite the healing process: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/vitamins-herbal-remedies.304287/

Wrasses have thick slime coats, so I wouldn't be too worried about that small of an abrasion becoming infected.

Thanks Humblefish. Is this pretty common? I was trying to figure out how he got injured. There is no aggression in the tank (it's only 3 small fish in there and there is a ton of space for now in this 125G tank).

Right now he is fed Masstick, frozen mysis, and New Life Spectrum pellets. He prefers Masstick and mysis. I'm soaking mysis and the masstick in Beta Glucon and Selcon starting this morning. Any other foods you would recommend?

 

[Humblefish]

@ReefWithCare Fish will often bump into/scrape against rocks, especially in the middle of the night when it's completely dark and something spooks them.