Question about my Scarlett Wrasse

[SandyB]

I've had him for 3 or 4 months now. He's grown since I've had him, but this last week I've noticed something seems wrong with his lips.
They look swollen. Nothing in his appearance has changed other than that. His actions have not changed, his eating hasn't changed. He just looks like he got punched in the mouth.
So, my question is should I be concerned?

 

[Cubbies]

Watch out for cotton mouth. Ime that's how it starts. I would dose Mela Fix if you can before it gets any worst. Sometimes we wait to long and try to fix it too late. I talk from experience. Hope he comes out ok.

 

[evolved]

When you say scarlett wrasse, what species do you mean? A photo would also be helpful in the diagnosis; at this point it could be normal, but without seeing a photo I cannot say.

 

[SandyB]

Well the guy where I bought him, said Scarlett Wrasse, I thought that was his species. lol
I'll do my best to get a pic, but he's camera shy.

 

[evolved]

They are many fish one might call a scarlet wrasse.

 

[SandyB]

Ok I got this pic, but the colors don't really show up on my iPhone.

 

[Cubbies]

I'd say that is cotton mouth.

 

[SandyB]

Ok I just googled that. But my fish doesn't have any of those symptoms, except the swollen mouth. My tank isn't overcrowded, no problem with oxygen. He's not changing color anywhere.
Also it says they die within 72 hours, he's had it longer than that. It seems to only be swollen lips.
However, I'll follow the suggestions on how to treat it
Thanks

 

[MrClam]

I had a linespot flasher wrasse that had a similar deformity (tough to tell from the pic) to his front lip when I first got him. Same situation in that it didn't have any other signs of cottonmouth when I investigated. It healed up after 2 weeks in QT without any treatment so I guess it was simply mechanical damage from shipping/stress. Could be the cause in your case.

 

[38bill]

Looks to me like the fish has injured his mouth leaving the upper lip flipped up. I have a Yellow wrasse that did the same thing. I tried to correct mine as soon as I noticed it but couldn't get it right. My wrasse doesn't seem to mind and he has been getting along just fine for a couple of years now.

 

[SandyB]

Looks to me like the fish has injured his mouth leaving the upper lip flipped up. I have a Yellow wrasse that did the same thing. I tried to correct mine as soon as I noticed it but couldn't get it right. My wrasse doesn't seem to mind and he has been getting along just fine for a couple of years now.

This is what I think, since he's been in my tank since at least April, and nothing else has changed. He also eats just fine. So I'm gonna watch him.