Clownfish with "stuck open" mouth

[cl2ysta1]

I have a true perc that is in QT right now that's mouth appears to be stuck open. the area around it seems very swollen, and i can make out tiny red specks here and there in the same area. It seems to be eating/acting fine, but it looks like it swelled so much its bottom jaw is almost broke!
It is in QT right now with several other fish out of my 120 b/c we had an ich outbreak. This fish however never had ich. Only the Powder blue and a purple pseudochromis. This clown had this problem slightly before QT, but now it has intensified.

This is a freshly set up QT
I am slowly lowering salinity. It has been 3 days and I still dont have it where it needs to be.
The PH is 8.3 i have been monitoring it, and added a buffer when it dropped a little.
the other inhabitants in this tank are:
Purple tang
Powder Blue Tang
2 Neon Cleaner Gobies
Purple Pseudochromis
Yellow watchman goby
Lawnmower blenny
another true perc
and a onyx clown

I did a search online, and found many other people posting with the same problem, but no one had an answer.

Two questions:

What is it?
and
What do I treat it with.

thanks in advance
Crystal

 

[new2scene]

i think lymphocytis so i've been told. do a google on it. my clown has it right now and in qt basically there is no cure just stable parameters and good diet.

 

[andrewsmart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9708533#post9708533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by new2scene
i think lymphocytis so i've been told. do a google on it. my clown has it right now and in qt basically there is no cure just stable parameters and good diet.

sounds like it check this out.

watch out and be ready to treat for a secondary bacterial infection.

 

[TerryB]

It is possible that there is some sort of parasite infection that is causing swelling or even an abnormal growth of extra cells in the gills and mouth. If you don't see a white cauliflower growth in the mouth or gills then it is not lymphocyctis. Lymphocyctis is usually seen on the fins and body, infrequently in the mouth or eyes. Brooklynella is very common with clownfish, but I doubt this is it because your fish is still eating. Did this swelling happen over a few days or did it take weeks? Gill flukes could cause what you describe, but considering that this is a clown I would try a formalin dip. Be very careful and watch the fish during the dip and remove it if it stresses out badly. Formalin can treat either brooklynella or gill flukes. If it was definately gill flukes then praziquantel is safer, but probably won't help brooklynella. Tough call because formalin should not be used with open wounds.

Terry B