Hole on Green Bird Wrasse head

jonyaple · Jul 30, 2026

I've had a green bird wrasse for about 6 months and about 3 months ago it grew a clear cyst on its forehead (approx 5mm) and popped after a few days. There's now a hole right on its forehead but it seems to be getting deeper maybe 3mm deep. It looks white/clean without any redness but I think its getting deeper. Could this be HLLE? There's been no change to behavior and is feeding well.

My tank is currently going under hyposalinity for ich and on metro/kanaplex for possible bacterial infection on my Moorish idol.

Thank you in advance

Jay Hemdal · Jul 30, 2026

jonyaple said:
I've had a green bird wrasse for about 6 months and about 3 months ago it grew a clear cyst on its forehead (approx 5mm) and popped after a few days. There's now a hole right on its forehead but it seems to be getting deeper maybe 3mm deep. It looks white/clean without any redness but I think its getting deeper. Could this be HLLE? There's been no change to behavior and is feeding well.

My tank is currently going under hyposalinity for ich and on metro/kanaplex for possible bacterial infection on my Moorish idol.

Thank you in advance

Bird wrasse can get HLLE, males can also develop a mass on their snouts.

Given the history though, this sounds like a scar from an abscess.

jonyaple · Jul 30, 2026

Jay Hemdal said:
Bird wrasse can get HLLE, males can also develop a mass on their snouts.

Given the history though, this sounds like a scar from an abscess.

Should I be worried if it gets deeper? Could it possibly go through bone?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 30, 2026

jonyaple said:
Should I be worried if it gets deeper? Could it possibly go through bone?

Yes - that’s a bad location. Trouble is, I don’t see any signs of infection. If you have a large enough tank, you could try treating with Neomycin or Kanamycin.

jonyaple · Jul 30, 2026

I am currently dosing my tank with both metroplex and kanaplex. I've added 2 doses of each metro and kanaplex. Is it ok to add neoplex on top of it?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 30, 2026

jonyaple said:
I am currently dosing my tank with both metroplex and kanaplex. I've added 2 doses of each metro and kanaplex. Is it ok to add neoplex on top of it?

No - stick with one antibiotic.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 30, 2026

jonyaple said:
I am currently dosing my tank with both metroplex and kanaplex. I've added 2 doses of each metro and kanaplex. Is it ok to add neoplex on top of it?

I recommend Kanaplex which is absorbed by a fish and will not restore the hole but prevent further effect. Do not mix these meds

Jay Hemdal · Jul 31, 2026

jonyaple said:
I am currently dosing my tank with both metroplex and kanaplex. I've added 2 doses of each metro and kanaplex. Is it ok to add neoplex on top of it?

I just re-read your post. To clarify - only use one antibiotic at a time, but after the third dose of Kanaplex, if the lesion is still getting larger, switching antibiotics would be warranted. In this case, I wonder if Erythromycin (Maracyn 1) might be the next to try? It handles gram positive bacteria. Kanaplex and Neoplex treat gram negative bacteria (which are more common in marine fish) but gram positive bacteria are often seen with internal issues in marine fish (deep seated infections).