Filefish Mouth Growth? Please help!

[GHogg]

I noticed a strange growth or adhesion to my filefish's mouth this afternoon. As far as I know it wasn't there last night when I fed and she was eating like normal.

From other threads the suggestions seem to be either an injury or some super glue from a drag or rock in the tank?

I don't have any coral frags yet, but I did glue my rocks. The glue in the tank is months old at this point however, so that doesn't seem likely. The end does seem a bit discolored but most of the growth is white.

If it is an injury is there anything I can do?
Could it be something malicious that adhered to her? Should I pull her from the tank and try to remove it? I'm a new reefer and this is my first fish ailment. I don't have a hospital tank set up.

She seems energetic and otherwise normal so I'm guessing I need to be patient but I'm freaking out just a little.

Everything is helpful, thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I noticed a strange growth or adhesion to my filefish's mouth this afternoon. As far as I know it wasn't there last night when I fed and she was eating like normal.

From other threads the suggestions seem to be either an injury or some super glue from a drag or rock in the tank?

I don't have any coral frags yet, but I did glue my rocks. The glue in the tank is months old at this point however, so that doesn't seem likely. The end does seem a bit discolored but most of the growth is white.

If it is an injury is there anything I can do?
Could it be something malicious that adhered to her? Should I pull her from the tank and try to remove it? I'm a new reefer and this is my first fish ailment. I don't have a hospital tank set up.

She seems energetic and otherwise normal so I'm guessing I need to be patient but I'm freaking out just a little.

Everything is helpful, thanks.

This is bacterial and may have started with injury and progressed. This is a tricky fish to treat due to response but best course of treatment for this would be Seachem Neoplex, If none, Kanaplex in a quarantine tank with clean water and added aeration with airstone and focus on ammonia level with a reliable test kit.

Is fish eating?
How is breathing rate- normal/rapid?
What is current ammonia and nitrate level?

 

[GHogg]

This is bacterial and may have started with injury and progressed. This is a tricky fish to treat due to response but best course of treatment for this would be Seachem Neoplex, If none, Kanaplex in a quarantine tank with clean water and added aeration with airstone and focus on ammonia level with a reliable test kit.

Is fish eating?
How is breathing rate- normal/rapid?
What is current ammonia and nitrate level?

Well I suppose that's good and bad news. Not contagious to tankmates then?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well I suppose that's good and bad news. Not contagious to tankmates then?

Should not be but at times can why I suggested to check your water readings and I also suggest a good water change in the display

 

[GHogg]

Should not be but at times can why I suggested to check your water readings and I also suggest a good water change in the display

Hey sorry I realized you had some follow up questions.

breathing and activity seem normal for the fish. Eating with gusto.

ammonia and nitrate have both read 0 consistently but I missed testing last week. I'll test tonight after my water change.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I noticed a strange growth or adhesion to my filefish's mouth this afternoon. As far as I know it wasn't there last night when I fed and she was eating like normal.

From other threads the suggestions seem to be either an injury or some super glue from a drag or rock in the tank?

I don't have any coral frags yet, but I did glue my rocks. The glue in the tank is months old at this point however, so that doesn't seem likely. The end does seem a bit discolored but most of the growth is white.

If it is an injury is there anything I can do?
Could it be something malicious that adhered to her? Should I pull her from the tank and try to remove it? I'm a new reefer and this is my first fish ailment. I don't have a hospital tank set up.

She seems energetic and otherwise normal so I'm guessing I need to be patient but I'm freaking out just a little.

Everything is helpful, thanks.

It wouldn’t be coral glue, that happens within minutes of using it.

It looks like Lymphocystis - but that would have taken days to develop, so if you are positive it showed up overnight, then it is probably an injury w/bacterial infection.

Jay