Melanarus wrasse with bladder

Ezeke1 · May 24, 2017

Hi all, I've had this melanarus for a year and over the past 6months he must of had an injury to his mouth because he cannot close it. Now I just noticed theres a bladder protruding from one side of his gills.

Does anyone know what this may be? He seems to be eating fine and healthy but I'm concerned about his longterm viability.

4FordFamily · May 24, 2017

Can you get a couple photos with the blues off? Or several more shots?

It could simply be an abscess, but based on your description I worry it's a tumor. Perhaps now it's large enough that instead of only impacting his mouth, its growing large enough that it's protruding from the face. Unfortunately, there would be nothing you could do for that.

How long has this been going on? If it's just swelling, and it hasn't been going on too long, some epsom salt may do the trick.

melypr1985 · May 24, 2017

It's hard to see in the picture, but I agree with Ford. It's likely something you can't do anything about. It either corrects itself, or it doesn't. I would worry that whatever it is, gets large enough to impact breathing and eating. Epsom salt would be worth a try and is reef safe. You could also attempt to QT with antibiotics.

Ezeke1 · May 24, 2017

I'll try for a better pic but hes hard to get a snapshot of. The bladder is something I just noticed. Something to note is he's been swimming along the sand and rock ledges and much less in the open waters if that makes sense.