Filefish and bristleworms

[Sean5545]

Hey everyone, quick question. I just moved a file fish into my display tank. After the second night I noticed what appeared to be mouth fungus limited to his lips ( for lack of a better term ) when I was looking closer it appeared as though it might be bristles from bristle worms. Has anybody heard of this before? I don't want to put him through unnecessary stress for another move and treatment. I could tell you he's acting fine otherwise and it appeared suddenly.

Sean

 

[Dmorty217]

It’s possible it ate or attempted to eat a bristle worm. Not really sure of any treatment that would help though other than some antibiotics possibly. I’m surprised the fish attempted to eat a bristle worm

 

[mike61289]

Hey everyone, quick question. I just moved a file fish into my display tank. After the second night I noticed what appeared to be mouth fungus limited to his lips ( for lack of a better term ) when I was looking closer it appeared as though it might be bristles from bristle worms. Has anybody heard of this before? I don't want to put him through unnecessary stress for another move and treatment. I could tell you he's acting fine otherwise and it appeared suddenly.

Sean

Both of my clownfish swatted at a bristleworm with their tails and picked it up with their mouths to move it away from their eggs. Both were swollen in those regions for a couple of weeks, but were eventually healthy again without medical treatment.

 

[Spartan]

"though it might be bristles from bristle worms..."

Have seen this happen several times from different species (for example tusk wrasse, niger trigger, even a royal gramma) who for better or worse tried to eat a bristle worm, not specifically a file fish though. If they are bristles, they fall off in a few days - usually a day or 2 -without issue.

 

[Sean5545]

Thanks for the input everyone....i was unable to post from my phone, for some reason it just repeatedly asks for my log in. I'm still uncertain if i have the ultimate bristle worm machine or if he has cottonmouth....i wish i could get a picture but he's still skittish around people. what are the thoughts on a cycle of melafix marine as a precaution in the display? i really don't want to try to fish him out of the rock work to treat him and destroy stuff in the process (especially if its nothing) but at the same time i don't want to lose him either.

thanks
Sean