Niger Trigger mouth

neson · 06/18/2015, 07:29 PM

I bought a Niger trigger about 6 weeks ago. He has been eating and swimming fine. I noticed the other day he had a mass of pink hanging out of the lower part of his mouth. I thought it was food, but it's still there several days later. He's still eating and swimming fine. When I watch him eat, he chews up his food like there is nothing wrong, but this is starting to annoy me, and possibly him. It's hard to get a close , clear picture, but can anyone toss me some thoughts on this? I've looked at lots of pictures online and can't find anything.

Genera · 06/18/2015, 07:47 PM

Is it one of those isopod parasites that eat the fishes tongue and becomes the tongue itself?

neson · 06/19/2015, 08:31 AM

Good lord, that research was creepy!! But I don't think it is. In all of those pictures, the parasite could clearly be seen. This is more like, some krill hanging out of his mouth...

scooter31707 · 06/19/2015, 08:57 AM

Are there anymore fish in the tank with him? How long has it been there and does it look like it's getting bigger. You might want to try and catch him and put him a hospital tank and see if you can see exactly what is going on, so you can treat it properly.

neson · 06/19/2015, 09:20 AM

There are three damsels in with him, one for the same amount of time, and the other two about two weeks after. Also two emerald crabs and two turbo snails. None of the damsels are showing issues. It's been about 5 days since I noticed it. Could have been longer but my trigger is such a sloppy eater, he always has things coming out of his mouth.

neson · 06/19/2015, 09:21 AM

Best picture I could get.

kegogut · 06/19/2015, 09:30 AM

I'm not sure about your problem,I'm just surprised that you can keep emeralds with a trigger and him not destroy them. lolz

eddiereefs · 06/19/2015, 09:41 AM

Looks like a fungal cottany growth, ive had this before. Ur gunna want to treat with an anti fungal medication like pimafix. This is reef safe. Also u can try some good foods with garlic.

Mishri · 06/19/2015, 09:44 AM

^ I agree with the above, some sort of infection, likely fungal. I disagree with the garlic bit though, it won't do anything... claims of immune system boosting have no scientific backing. Studies with marine fish and garlic have only shown it causes heart and liver problems.

eddiereefs · 06/19/2015, 09:52 AM

Be that as it may your problem is most likley water quality. What are ur parameters and tank size.

neson · 06/19/2015, 04:39 PM

45 gal
Calcium: 400
Sg:1.023
Nitrates: < 10ppm
Phosphates: < .25

nuxx · 06/19/2015, 05:03 PM

Too small of a tank for a Niger

Try posting it in the disease section, there are some very informed people in there

neson · 06/19/2015, 05:22 PM

It's just a temporary home. I have a 125g cycling now. And he's still a little guy, barely 3 inches long. But I will post this in the other section. Thanks.

nuxx · 06/19/2015, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neson

It's just a temporary home. I have a 125g cycling now. And he's still a little guy, barely 3 inches long. But I will post this in the other section. Thanks.

No problem

heathlindner25 · 06/19/2015, 06:55 PM

Maybe it's an injury from banging against the glass or a rock?

neson · 06/19/2015, 07:47 PM

Do injuries look like that? I've never had a fish that ran into the glass or rocks before, but he does occasionally. So I don't know. If it's an injury, should it heal naturally?

Mishri · 06/19/2015, 10:11 PM

no.. it looks like some sort of infection (possibly caused by injury) either fungal or bacteria.. there are a number of remedies.. pimafix,(as mentioned above) and/or melafix.. try those for a week or so.. if no improvement try a more... solid... anti-bacterial... I love niger triggers.. it was my 3rd saltwater fish I ever bought.

06/18/2015, 07:47 PM	#2
Genera Blink and you're dead. Join Date: May 2015 Location: MN Posts: 531	Is it one of those isopod parasites that eat the fishes tongue and becomes the tongue itself? __________________ Ah, Minnesota, The Land of 10,000 Lakes (Actually, there are 11,842 that are 10+ acres) Current Tank Info: n/a

06/19/2015, 09:30 AM	#7
kegogut Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: St.Louis Posts: 5,052	I'm not sure about your problem,I'm just surprised that you can keep emeralds with a trigger and him not destroy them. lolz __________________ Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank.

06/19/2015, 09:44 AM	#9
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	^ I agree with the above, some sort of infection, likely fungal. I disagree with the garlic bit though, it won't do anything... claims of immune system boosting have no scientific backing. Studies with marine fish and garlic have only shown it causes heart and liver problems. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

06/19/2015, 05:03 PM	#12
nuxx RC Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 3,990	Too small of a tank for a Niger Try posting it in the disease section, there are some very informed people in there __________________ Peter TankStop - Fish and Coral 470G Display - Build Thread Current Tank Info: Retired - 470 Gallon Mixed Reef (120x29x31")

06/19/2015, 10:11 PM	#17
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	no.. it looks like some sort of infection (possibly caused by injury) either fungal or bacteria.. there are a number of remedies.. pimafix,(as mentioned above) and/or melafix.. try those for a week or so.. if no improvement try a more... solid... anti-bacterial... I love niger triggers.. it was my 3rd saltwater fish I ever bought. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

06/19/2015, 08:31 AM	#3
neson Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 9	Good lord, that research was creepy!! But I don't think it is. In all of those pictures, the parasite could clearly be seen. This is more like, some krill hanging out of his mouth...

06/19/2015, 08:57 AM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Are there anymore fish in the tank with him? How long has it been there and does it look like it's getting bigger. You might want to try and catch him and put him a hospital tank and see if you can see exactly what is going on, so you can treat it properly.

06/19/2015, 09:41 AM	#8
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	Looks like a fungal cottany growth, ive had this before. Ur gunna want to treat with an anti fungal medication like pimafix. This is reef safe. Also u can try some good foods with garlic.

06/19/2015, 09:52 AM	#10
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	Be that as it may your problem is most likley water quality. What are ur parameters and tank size.

06/19/2015, 04:39 PM	#11
neson Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 9	45 gal Calcium: 400 Sg:1.023 Nitrates: < 10ppm Phosphates: < .25

06/19/2015, 05:22 PM	#13
neson Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 9	It's just a temporary home. I have a 125g cycling now. And he's still a little guy, barely 3 inches long. But I will post this in the other section. Thanks.

06/19/2015, 06:55 PM	#15
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Maybe it's an injury from banging against the glass or a rock?

06/19/2015, 07:47 PM	#16
neson Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 9	Do injuries look like that? I've never had a fish that ran into the glass or rocks before, but he does occasionally. So I don't know. If it's an injury, should it heal naturally?