Need a Gramma expert

Michelle B · Nov 21, 2023

Hello,
I notice my Royal Gramma has been breathing with his mouth open like he is gasping for a couple weeks. Tonight I looked in his mouth and it looks like there is something in there? Any ideas? TIA

vetteguy53081 · Nov 21, 2023

Michelle B said:
Hello,
I notice my Royal Gramma has been breathing with his mouth open like he is gasping for a couple weeks. Tonight I looked in his mouth and it looks like there is something in there? Any ideas? TIA

Pic very fuzzy to clearly see but these fish are susceptible to flukes and as for what’s in it’s mouth could be a parasitic isopod but hard to confirm again based on picture quality

Jay Hemdal · Nov 22, 2023

Michelle B said:
Hello,
I notice my Royal Gramma has been breathing with his mouth open like he is gasping for a couple weeks. Tonight I looked in his mouth and it looks like there is something in there? Any ideas? TIA

The picture isn't super clear, but it looks like there is a pinkish lump in its mouth? If so, that is most likely a thyroid tumor called a goiter. In humans, that is caused by a lack of iodine, but in fish, there are substances in aquariums called "goitrogens" that can cause this. Supplementing with iodine in the food can sometimes help keep it from starting up, but once started, there really isn't any treatment.

Jay

Michelle B · Nov 22, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
The picture isn't super clear, but it looks like there is a pinkish lump in its mouth? If so, that is most likely a thyroid tumor called a goiter. In humans, that is caused by a lack of iodine, but in fish, there are substances in aquariums called "goitrogens" that can cause this. Supplementing with iodine in the food can sometimes help keep it from starting up, but once started, there really isn't any treatment.

Jay

Thank you Jay very much. Should I do a water test and check iodine levels? Anything I can do to keep the fish comfortable? I feel bad for him.

Thanks again!

Jay Hemdal · Nov 23, 2023

Michelle B said:
Thank you Jay very much. Should I do a water test and check iodine levels? Anything I can do to keep the fish comfortable? I feel bad for him.

Thanks again!

Sorry - adding iodine to the water won't help. The fish need to get the iodine in their food, and once the goiter has grown large, it just doesn't get reduced by iodine, even in the food. I've also tried L-thyroxine and that didn't work well either.

Jay