Help with yellow watchman

[aurora.k]

Hi -

I have a new tank with only two fish.

Parameters are 1.023, PH 8.0, temp 78, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, nitrate about 40. I did have a weird spike in nitrate which had been barely above 0. Got this guy one week ago and he’s been breathing like that since. I thought it was the trauma, but he still is and now I see white spot thing on his lower lip. He still swims and readily eats defrosted brine shrimp and I think interacts with my pistol shrimp, who unfortunately set up camp in a cave. I only have one other fish, a transparent cave goby, who is perfectly fine - no white spots or weird behavior.

 

[aurora.k]

Ps I don’t see any other white spots and have googled photos of marine velvet and see nothing that looks like that on him.

 

[Maritimer]

White spots are sometimes bacterial in nature, but this looks much more "solid" and sharp-edged than bacteria should be. I'm kind of leaning toward oral Lymphocystis here. Lymphocystis is a virus, and usually not harmful ... unless it forms in the mouth or gills, and prevents the fish from eating or breathing correctly. It can't be "cured" by normal means, but if it begins to interfere with basic function, it can be carefully cut away.

~Bruce

 

[aurora.k]

White spots are sometimes bacterial in nature, but this looks much more "solid" and sharp-edged than bacteria should be. I'm kind of leaning toward oral Lymphocystis here. Lymphocystis is a virus, and usually not harmful ... unless it forms in the mouth or gills, and prevents the fish from eating or breathing correctly. It can't be "cured" by normal means, but if it begins to interfere with basic function, it can be carefully cut away.

~Bruce

Thank you!!