Clown with Puffy Lips and white Pimple?!?!?

[Fxdupcobra]

This is the first time I have seen this. My false Precula has puffy lips and what looks like a big white pimple on her face. What can I do. She hasnt eaten in 5 days and the tank is currently in hypo?

[Garrett]

You may want put a picture on here of what your Clown looks like..i'm no fish expert, but so it seems that Lee likes pictures and they help him the best with figuring out what to do to help your clown.

[Fxdupcobra]

My friend has my digital camera. I have heard that the big lips "fish lips" is a common problem just wanted to see what the solution might be??

[leebca]

Sorry for the delayed reply. I had a hard time logging on yesterday.

The condition can be caused by a small group of possible reasons. It takes diagnosis using scrapings, cultures, and microscopic work to differentiate between some of the reasons.

In general the things can cause what you see include:
1. Injury – from a tank mate, stung/sting by marine life, accident, etc.
2. Tumor
3. Bacterial infection
4. Parasite

The last, parasite, is least likely. A good photo can eliminate this possibility. Most likely is a bacterial infection. Some of the bacterial waste can get ‘caught’ in the fish system and the fish walls off the area, creating that white spot. Much like a human pimple. The fish should be removed from the display and treated with antibiotics – the kind that are ingested or, in this case if the fish isn’t eating, the kind that go through the skin of the fish. Maracyn Two for Saltwater Fish given at twice the recommended first dose is a good start. Another good choice and somewhat stronger is the antibiotic NITROFURAZONE (Aquatronics’ Furacyn, in Spectrogram).

Not much can be done for a tumor other than to make the fish comfortable.

If the condition has been brought on by injury then the aquarist has to figure out what injured the fish and then move the fish or the offending marine organism so the fish isn’t injured any more, then hope the fish recovers. An antibiotic treatment doesn’t hurt so this can be treated like mentioned above for a bacterial infection.

When and if the fist starts to eat again, verify that the foods given are the best. Provide immune boosters for the first couple of weeks: Fish Immune Boosters

The bacterial infection implies the fish is not getting the proper nutrition or there is something wrong with its environment.

[Fxdupcobra]

Thank you once again Leebca, for comming to my aid. I will try your suggestions and hopefully it will save the little guy or girl in this case. My only concern is will there be a problem using medication like maracyn II if the fish is in hypo (1.009)?

Thanks!

[leebca]

It's good that you asked this. Medications added to saltwater that is hyposaline can have different or enhanced effects on the fish. All saltwater meds were made for 'normal' saline.

I usually recommend dosing twice the recommended initial dose of Maracyn Two. That is for normal saline water. If the fish is in hyposaline, then follow the directions on the Maracyn insert/package and dose according to what is recommended (i.e., NOT doubled).