Checkerboard wrasse something stuck in mouth

[USMA36]

My checkerboard wrasse has something stuck in his mouth. Looks like it could possibly be part of a Vermetid snail. I have 0 chance of catching this guy. What are the odds he figures out how to dislodge it in his own? He hides in the rocks soon as I put anything in the water to try and catch him.

 

[AZReef13]

Try posting in Wrasse lovers tread, there are some great experts over there. Should get you an answer

 

[USMA36]

Try posting in Wrasse lovers tread, there are some great experts over there. Should get you an answer

thanks I don’t want to double post. I don’t see a way to move the thread.

 

[Tcook]

thanks I don’t want to double post. I don’t see a way to move the thread.

Like this: @i cant think @Crabby48 @Slocke

First concern was mouth damage but looks more like a growth. How long has it been there and how long have you had the wrasse ?

 

[Tcook]

If it has been slow growing could it be an ofontode or dermal tooth? They originate in the pharanx in wrasses (in other organisms embryonicaly?) and migrate to the mouth. This looks like it has a wider base to it. It may be the angle of the picture so if it is truely a free object in the mouth then mm.

Maybe Jay can make sense of it @Jay Hemdal

 

[sc50964]

He ran into something hard. There is nothing you can do to treat this other than keeping the water quality high & aerated, and keeping him fed.

 

[Crabby48]

It does look to be in his upper jaw. Trap baited with food to catch.
Wonder if it is something stuck if it would work its way way. Hmm

 

[Tcook]

It does look to be in his upper jaw. Trap baited with food to catch.
Wonder if it is something stuck if it would work its way way. Hmm

Ya. The shape of the two jaws look intact. Maybe something impaled him like vermatid as mentioned above rather than something stuck in oral cavity.

 

[USMA36]

I’ll try and get a better picture. He’s chasing food but doesn’t look like he’s actually able to eat much. I’ve had him 3 years. I don’t think it’s a growth. It just appeared a couple of days ago. I have a 1 liter soda bottle trap in the tank but he has been avoiding it. It has caught several smaller fish though.

 

[USMA36]

 

[sc50964]

Hmm.., that's not from running into things. I suspect it is bacterial infection simply bc it doesn't look like the typical parasite or internal issues & it's not from an injury or fight.

 

[AZReef13]

thanks I don’t want to double post. I don’t see a way to move the thread.

I can understand about double posting, some from wreaks lovers are so hopefully they can help get you fish back to normal

 

[Tcook]

That is a hard one. Good pic but rexolution still hard to tell if infection or some type of impalement. Mouth parts look intact though. Beautiful wrasse. Keep trying the trap.

 

[USMA36]

Hmm.., that's not from running into things. I suspect it is bacterial infection simply bc it doesn't look like the typical parasite or internal issues & it's not from an injury or fight.

If it’s bacterial what’s the treatment? I’ve never seen a fish with this before. It didn’t grow slowly. One day he was normal the next it was there. He cannot close his mouth either.

 

[sc50964]

If it’s bacterial what’s the treatment? I’ve never seen a fish with this before. It didn’t grow slowly. One day he was normal the next it was there. He cannot close his mouth either.

Nothing effective in a reef setting IME. Anything anti-bacterial will also possibly harm the good bacteria in your tank. So anything that’s branded “reef safe” for bacterial infection carries risk to me.