Purple Tang Lip Growth (Pics)

[ReeferGil]

So I've had this Purple Tang in my system for nearly 1.5 years. No new fish have been introduced. It seems like overnight he developed a growth on his upper lip that extends downward, covering the front of his mouth. It looks like a bird's beak or a piece of white grain rice. It's not Ich. He's not acting unusual and is going after food. The problem is I don't know what it is (tumor, parasite, injury etc). None of my other fish show this growth and he's the only tang in the system. He is missing some pellet that he goes after because the growth is in its way, so I am worried he not eating what enough. Can anyone tell me what it can be and how to get rid of it?

 

[crissie]

I don't know a great deal about purple tangs, but I know that many tangs develop a "hump" on the mouth at maturity. It would be worth checking if this is the case with purple tangs also.

Unfortunately your pictures don't show enough to say whether it looks natural or problematic.

 

[ReeferGil]

Hmm, it showed up within the last three days. I've been at work and come home when lights are off, so that's why I'm not sure how long it took to appear, but definitely less than three days. Never noticed it before. I will attempt to get better pics tomorrow when the lights are on again with a better camera.

It looks like a white elephant trunk coming off of his upper lip. I've never seen a tang have this.

 

[snorvich]

Google lymphocystis.

 

[ReeferGil]

Thanks man, but it wasn't lymphocystis. I woke up today to take a better picture and the tang is 100% cleared up. No idea what he had on his mouth, but whatever it was had attached itself. It wasn't food or sand or anything like that. I'm just glad it's gone.

 

[snorvich]

No problem. Glad it is gone.

 

[Southreef]

Could it have been an isopod?

 

[coral_lagoon]

Could it have been an isopod?

This..

It looks like one in the pic..