White growth on Naso's Lip

[John Hughes]

I just noticed that my Naso tang has a white growth on it's lip. What the heck am I supposed to do with that? Should I catch it and attempt to remove it?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[deedubz]

I can't tell what it is, though I'd advise against manual removal. Is this a new fish?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Tough to tell. @4FordFamily, what do you think?

 

[4FordFamily]

How long has it been there? I can’t really tell what it is!

Does it move?

 

[Flippers4pups]

How long has it been there? I can’t really tell what it is!

Does it move?

Yep, at first I thought it might be a bad isopod. Can't tell from the picture though.

 

[4FordFamily]

Yep, at first I thought it might be a bad isopod. Can't tell from the picture though.

That was my thought but I don’t know much about these parasites. It doesn’t look like lymph to me.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @Big G @Maritimer

 

[Flippers4pups]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...cirolanid-verses-sphaeromatid-isopods.251779/

 

[HB AL]

If it just popped up overnight I would manually remove it before it got bigger or caused some damage. Fish have an amazing way of healing wounds.

 

[Big G]

Is the growth solid looking or like cotton?

 

[Maritimer]

It looks as though it's coming out of the fish's mouth - is that correct?

It almost does look like the tail of a cirolanid isopod - but most of those ride with their heads facing the fish's mouth.

~Bruce

 

[John Hughes]

I can't tell what it is, though I'd advise against manual removal. Is this a new fish?

No, I've had it for about 3-4 months. It's eating like a pig and sometimes looks as though he's trying to eat what's in/on it's mouth.

I think I'm going to try and remove it.

 

[John Hughes]

How long has it been there? I can’t really tell what it is!

Does it move?

It doesn't appear to move but I'll watch it more closely. Now that the lights are off I'm going to take another look.

 

[John Hughes]

Is the growth solid looking or like cotton?

Looks solid.

 

[John Hughes]

Just went and looked, with lights off, and it's gone!!! I guess it either fell off or he swallowed it. I'll have to watch the tank more closely, if that's even possible, and see if I see any sign of any others.

Thanks for all the great responses.