Wrasse Mouth Receding?

[Variant]

I got a wrasse ~2 weeks ago and it's been doing great so far. Eating like a champ so far. But over the past few days, I noticed the upper part of its mouth was white and yesterday after a big splash in my tank, I noticed that the wrasse was not swimming around like its usual self.

I surprisingly caught it easily and put him in an acclimation box where it's been hiding in some PVC fittings. After a closer look, it appears that the upper part of his mouth is dissolving or receding. His mouth is open almost all the time, seemingly as if he can't close it.

Any idea what this is and how to treat it? Setting up a hopsital tank in a 5 gallon bucket is an option.

 

[Variant]

Pictures.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh- that's a really severe infection. Once the bone has been compromised like that, I don’t see it growing back. I presume the fish can’t feed? If not, I would suggest euthanizing the fish....sorry
Jay

 

[Variant]

I put him in a hispital tank with furan2. The fish is still a super aggressive eater so I am holding onto some hope. I have kanaplex, melafix and sulfaplex coming in for additional help.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That’s great that it is still able to feed well! As long as it can keep its energy levels up, and you can resolve the infection, you may be able to pull it through!
Jay

 

[Variant]

@Humblefish have you dealt with fish mouth receding? Are the antibacteria treatments I listed below all I can do at this point?

Also how long should it take to see any healing?

 

[Variant]

Started with furan 2 and just added kanaplex to the mix.

Fish is behaving healthy, a bit timid when approaching the tank too close but otherwise eating very very well.

 

[Variant]

@evolved have you seen anythung like this with wrasses? I am guessing the injury was either during shipment, or another fish bit ita mouth during one of my feedings or it hurt it when trying to jump out of the tank and hitting the mesh net.

 

[evolved]

It's an injury follow by a secondary infection, and it's the latter that makes the trouble.

Furan 2 + Kana and hope; that's really all you can do.

 

[Variant]

Is there any reason not to use sulfaplex in addition to the trifecta (furan2, kanaplex, metroplex)?

Does it interact with the other medication negatively?

 

[evolved]

I don't know the answer to that.
@Jay Hemdal?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I don't know the answer to that.
@Jay Hemdal?

Sorry I don’t have a specific answer to that. I would be inclined not to dose multiple products aimed at the same pathogen. My general recommendation is to pick a good broad spectrum antibiotic effective against gram negative, then stay the course for 5 to 7 days.
Jay

 

[Variant]

Gotcha so atick woth the 3 common combo and use sulfaplex if recovery is not evident in 10-14 days.

Sounds like a game plan...

 

[evolved]

It probably won't regrow tissue over the now exposed bone, fwiw.
But if you stop the infection and it still eats, you might be able to sustain it as so.