Jaw infection or disease

[Fishnut]

This is the second wrasse I had that came down with some kind Infection that eats away the lower jaw of the fish. I have tried feeding metro but it has not slowed down the white growth. The fish eventually loses it’s lower jaw and is unable to eat and soon dies. The first wrasse died over a year ago from this and no other fish in the tank shows any illness. Any insight is appreciated.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Do you have a top on your tank? Any chance it could have injured itself trying to jump?

 

[Fishnut]

Yes there is a full glass canopy I would think that there would also be some damage to the upper jaw, but don’t know for sure. With both wrasses it seem to start inside the mouth where the tongue would be. Then it gets larger rotting away only the lower jaw.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

There isn't a specific infection that causes this that I know of. As mentioned, mouth infections usually began as an injury - hitting something in the tank, getting caught in a net (angelfish do this).

The problem of course is that even a minor infection of the mouth can cause a fish to stop feeding.

It is most likely a bacterial infection, so if you can catch it and move it to a QT and treat with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic that would probably be the best course of action: Neoplex, Maracyn 2, Furan-2, something like that.

Jay

 

[Fishnut]

Thanks Jay, I wasn’t able to catch the wrasse with net or trap yet. Do you think eating bristle worms could have caused this?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hmmm, maybe. I've seen pictures of other fish that tangled with them - initially, it looks like a dog that ran into a porcupine, but after the bristles break off, and if they get infected, then it might look like this. That said, some species of wrasse are pretty adept at eating bristle worms....

Jay