HELP! what's wrong with my Wrasse's gills?

[subzero]

Okay - So i noticed about a month ago that my wrasse was breathing more heavy and became more timid/resting more often. Also noticed that the GILLS are basically coming out of the cheeks (skin covering the gills).

I've had the tank for 2.5 years, and all inhabitants bought at same time/same store. No new additions, nothing crazy. Isn't as active eating/biting my fingers for food.. now more timid and chills. it's almost as if he has something stuck in there lol - when I feed my snowflake there have been times he's jacked a fat piece of squid tentacles and nearly choked before spitting it back out hah

I would be hard pressed to think that after 2 years there some kind of fluke/bacteria/etc without any new additions

Of note; both gills are the same, but left is worse than right

 

[fishguy242]

#fishmedic

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay - So i noticed about a month ago that my wrasse was breathing more heavy and became more timid/resting more often. Also noticed that the GILLS are basically coming out of the cheeks (skin covering the gills).

I've had the tank for 2.5 years, and all inhabitants bought at same time/same store. No new additions, nothing crazy. Isn't as active eating/biting my fingers for food.. now more timid and chills. it's almost as if he has something stuck in there lol - when I feed my snowflake there have been times he's jacked a fat piece of squid tentacles and nearly choked before spitting it back out hah

I would be hard pressed to think that after 2 years there some kind of fluke/bacteria/etc without any new additions

Of note; both gills are the same, but left is worse than right

Fish has mouth open and appears to be yawning and may likely have gill flukes. Other signs are loss of appetite, flashing or darting across the tank
A 5 minute freshwater dip will offer temporary relief . After a dip you can look at bottom of container for what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales which will confirm flukes
Ultimately-treatment will be prazi pro

 

[subzero]

Fish has mouth open and appears to be yawning and may likely have gill flukes. Other signs are loss of appetite, flashing or darting across the tank
A 5 minute freshwater dip will offer temporary relief . After a dip you can look at bottom of container for what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales which will confirm flukes
Ultimately-treatment will be prazi pro

Is prazipro bad for inverts/coral?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Okay - So i noticed about a month ago that my wrasse was breathing more heavy and became more timid/resting more often. Also noticed that the GILLS are basically coming out of the cheeks (skin covering the gills).

I've had the tank for 2.5 years, and all inhabitants bought at same time/same store. No new additions, nothing crazy. Isn't as active eating/biting my fingers for food.. now more timid and chills. it's almost as if he has something stuck in there lol - when I feed my snowflake there have been times he's jacked a fat piece of squid tentacles and nearly choked before spitting it back out hah

I would be hard pressed to think that after 2 years there some kind of fluke/bacteria/etc without any new additions

Of note; both gills are the same, but left is worse than right

Is the mouth open most of the time or did the photo just catch it open?
Is the fish still feeding ok?
Is it breathing quicker than normal?

It very well could be an obstruction if the mouth seems stuck open. A differential diagnosis would be goiter, hyperthyroidism. In those cases a large tumor grows at the base of the gill plates and can cause the gills to push out. You can sometimes see this tissue when the gills open, it is pink.
Jay

 

[subzero]

Mouth is open all the time - I feel like he can’t close it. Eating ok but not like the usual pig it is, and breathing a bit faster than normal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Mouth is open all the time - I feel like he can’t close it. Eating ok but not like the usual pig it is, and breathing a bit faster than normal

I forgot to ask - did this come on suddenly or develop over time? Goiter develops slowly and obstructions happen more suddenly.
Jay

 

[subzero]

Yea I can’t remember - probably rather suddenly. I wouldn’t mind catching him and taking a closer look, but it will be extremely difficult without tearing up the tank. Unfortunately I’ll have to stay like that

 

[Phlynamjax]

I think one of my angelfish has Goiter. I don’t know when it started, but at least 2+ years. Both gills are bit stuck out, is there a way to treat this?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I think one of my angelfish has Goiter. I don’t know when it started, but at least 2+ years. Both gills are bit stuck out, is there a way to treat this?

Can you post a picture?

Adding iodine to the diet can work, adding it to the water won’t help though.

Long term goiter may be permanent though.