Yellow Coris Wrasse - Swollen gill or Tumor?

OnlyTono

OnlyTono

Member
So my yellow Coris Wrasse has developed a swollen gill. He started showing signs of trouble with the gill a few weeks ago, but I left him in place since at the time, it was very minor and he had no other outward signs of discomfort. His eating and sleeping habits have remained normal (always a good eater), and his energy level has remained normal until a few days ago.

Starting on Friday "“ he seemed a bit more lethargic than normal, but was still eating like he should. His gill had inflamed a considerable amount and is now pushing out of the side of his head.

I have already setup a hospital tank and and moved him into it earlier today.

What I need help with is identifying the issue so I can make the best decisions on treating him. Below are some close up photos of his left gill, and a video of him swimming around.

I've shown this to a few other both online and at my LFS, and have received varying opinions from parasitic infection, tumor, fungus - but no solid consensus yet.

History of water parameters can be viewed on my AquaticLog profile here:
http://www.aquaticlog.com/showcase/measure?aquariumId=2396



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Video



I'm sure I've left something out here, so if you have any questions, please ask - thanks in advance.
 
I would send this over to Bob Fenner at WetWebMedia.com if you don't get any answers here in a short period of time.
 
How's the wrasse doing today? I looked at the video and it appears he's having a hard time breathing, hence, the mouth staying open. How long have you had him?
 
Newsmyrna80 said:
How's the wrasse doing today? I looked at the video and it appears he's having a hard time breathing, hence, the mouth staying open. How long have you had him?
Click to expand...

He seems to be doing OK - he spent the day yesterday hiding after the move to the hospital tank and didn't eat. Today, he's out swimming around bit. I'll be feeding the fish in a few minutes so I'll see if he continues to eat.

His condition does not seem to have worsened, so that's good. I have not settled in on a treatment yet since I've still not sure what I'm dealing with.

I'm considering a freshwater bath as the first round of treatments to target potential parasitic infections, but I'm not fully committed to it just yet.

So for now, I'm just going to observe.
 
Newsmyrna80 said:
How long have you had him?
Click to expand...

I've had this wrasse since early January of this year - so about 11 months. He, along with most of the other fish, where brought into this tank when I upgraded from the 50 gallon to this 125 back in early June of this year.

The full stock list can be viewed on my AquaticLog profile at:
http://www.aquaticlog.com/showcase/stock?aquariumId=2396

All the fish that where brought over during the upgrade will have an introduction date of Thursday, June 6th or earlier, while newer fish will have an date more recent.
 
OnlyTono said:
He seems to be doing OK - he spent the day yesterday hiding after the move to the hospital tank and didn't eat. Today, he's out swimming around bit. I'll be feeding the fish in a few minutes so I'll see if he continues to eat.

His condition does not seem to have worsened, so that's good. I have not settled in on a treatment yet since I've still not sure what I'm dealing with.

I'm considering a freshwater bath as the first round of treatments to target potential parasitic infections, but I'm not fully committed to it just yet.

So for now, I'm just going to observe.
Click to expand...

I am a proponent of freshwater dips but I don't think it will serve a purpose here. Since you've had the fish for awhile the likelihood that it is parasitic in nature is low.
Do you have a marine science center nearby?
 
Newsmyrna80 said:
I am a proponent of freshwater dips but I don't think it will serve a purpose here. Since you've had the fish for awhile the likelihood that it is parasitic in nature is low.
Do you have a marine science center nearby?
Click to expand...

Actually I do - Just got back from one of the LFS I frequent here and the owners are extremely knowledgably. They also run an off-site quarantine facility where they have a full lab setup.

I was lucky enough to catch their Senior Aquatic Biologist in the shop today, so I showed him the pictures. He looked at them and was of the same opinion - that the FW bath would probably do little good in this case.

I had not realized this, but they offer various services, including the surgery that would be required to remove the growth at a very reasonable cost. So I scheduled an appointment. Kora (the coris wrasse) is scheduled for an examination, then possible surgery depending on what they find, on Thursday. :)

I'll keep this post update with photos (if possible) as this proceeds.
 
Thank you. I was hoping you were near MD. Having a LFS with that level of expertise is priceless. Good luck!!
 
Newsmyrna80 said:
That's great! Keep us updated! Did they give you any instructions as treatment in the meantime?
Click to expand...

Nothing Specific other then to keep him as healthy as possible and to keep stress down to a minimum.

The fish doesn't particularly like the small 10 gallon tank he's in - he's pretty big for a tank of that size, but he's swimming around better then he had been in the display tank and eating good.

I placed a chunk of live rock in there from the refugium, just to make it more 'homey' so to speak. Seems to have helped - he seems a little less stressed.

Basically, they said it's a one day procedure. I'll bring him in at 11am. Assuming it goes as planned, I can pick him up later that day. Of course they didn't make any guarantees, and even warned there's always a chance for poor outcome. :uhoh2:

Fingers crossed....
 
Yeah, the lead marine biologist at our science center tells me that whenever I bring my fish in:) Just like what we tell human patients;)
I'm sure you are putting vitamins in his food. Fingers are crossed!
 
Newsmyrna80 said:
Yeah, the lead marine biologist at our science center tells me that whenever I bring my fish in:) Just like what we tell human patients;)
I'm sure you are putting vitamins in his food. Fingers are crossed!
Click to expand...

ya - I'v been using selcon for a while now and just soaking their food in it while it defrosts.

the tank gets feed frozen Mysis soaked in selcon, along with a small amount of a mixture that contains vitamin enriched brine shrimp, cycloposeez, and Nutra Mar.

While the wrasse is in the hospital tank though, he just gets the Mysis.
 
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