Yellow Coris Wrasse - Swollen gill or Tumor?

[OnlyTono]

Did you get a response from Bob yet?

No - I have not. I sent the e-mail to the address they have listed on their site (crew -at- wetwebmedia.com). Maybe I should have sent it to a different e-mail address?

I Did find a section in their site that describes what sounds very similar. If you go here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/wrasdisfaq2.htm , then search that page for "Strange growth under gill plate".

At about 3/4 of the way down the page, there is a conversion about a wrasse with an issue that sounds similar to mine. But there are no pictures so it's hard to say for sure.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Did you try the iodine in his food?

 

[OnlyTono]

Did you try the iodine in his food?

no not yet - I could not find the Logol's iodine solution mentioned in the article in any of the store I visited over the last few days. I could order it online, but by the time it got here, the wrasse will already had the mass removed.

I'm going to try to hit a few more stores today to see if they have it though

 

[OnlyTono]

just an update. The lump in the wrasses gill has continued to increase a little bit. It has also began to change color just a bit with small darker patches.

I tried getting a photo of it, but can't get a good one. He continues to act normal and eats and sleeps as normal. doesn't seems to bother him too much.

Also - I did receive a message back from the Bob Fenner at webwebmeida.com


Here's the message with his in-line comments

Dear Mr. Fenner,

I have yellow coris wrasse that has a gill issue.

One of the members (Newsmyrna80) on reefcental.com suggested I bring this to your attention.
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.
<Mmm; not swollen per se; but some sort of tumorous growth coming out from the cavity>> 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 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 would not treat... but maybe try one or more purposeful cleaner organisms at this juncture... Perhaps a Lysmata sp. shrimp for a first go >

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.
<... only can be discerned by necropsying the fish, area... with it dead or killed... Embedding, sectioning... histological exam. >

History of water parameters can be viewed on my AquaticLog profile here:
http://www.aquaticlog.com/showcase/m...quariumId=2396
<http://www.aquaticlog.com/showcase/measure?aquariumId=2396>
<http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/onlytono/2>
Video
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbdK5WawKbk>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbdK5WawKbk
I'm sure I've left something out here, so if you have any questions, please ask - thanks in advance.
Antonio Gutierrez
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Not a whole lot of info, but it does at least provide another confirmation that it's some sort to growth, as opposed to a swollen gill. Also his prognosis doesn't sound particularly positive. So I feel comfortable with the continuing to wait until Thursday to see what happens with the examination and possible removal of the mass.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I think that is the way to go. As long as he is not suffering I would wait until his dr. appt tomorrow.

 

[OnlyTono]

All packed and ready go - traveling in a luxury 5 gal bucket.

 

[dunc101]

Good luck to the wrasse! I'm awaiting the results, hopefully good.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Good luck little girl!

 

[OnlyTono]

Sad to say it did not go well - Kora the Coris wrasse did not survive the procedure.:sad2:

After they got in there and where able to get a better look, it turned out the issue was even more extensive. It was in fact some sort of tumor, but in addition most if not all of the gill structure was gone, and there was a pit running from the base of the tumor into the head, almost up to the eye.

Given the extent of it, I don't believe Kora would have lasted much longer any away since the tumor was clearly still growing. So, as sad as it is, this may have been the better outcome as opposed to a slow death. It was far worse than the fish had let on to.

They did take a few photos of the process for documentation purpose since this was something that they had never really seen before in the aquarium trade. I asked that they send me the photos, along with a more detailed explanation of their findings. I should have that in a few days and will post them here for anyone who is interested.

sad day.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I am so sorry for your loss. You did everything you could and more than most! I believe you are right that she probably would not have lasted much longer but she was a trooper! Again, very sorry

 

[RJT]

You're a great pet owner. Glad she won't have to go through the final stages of having a tumor.

 

[OnlyTono]

Thanks for all the condolences - it's appreciated.

I received the photos from the LFS that performed the procedure, and a brief explanation of their findings.

here it is - hopefully this info will help someone else in the future should they encounter this in their own tank.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The tumor-like growth was firm, no fluids present, mottled in color with a smooth surface texture. The texture was different than that of a Lymphocystis nodule. The interior contained no pores and had the same texture and appearance as on the surface. It measured 1.1 cm in diameter. The primary attachment was at the top of the opercula cover bone with a smaller attachment point lower on the bone plate. Once removed, bright red flesh surrounded the lesion area within the gill cavity. No gill filaments remained. A circular opening approximately 2 millimeters in diameter extended from the gill cavity inward toward the head of the fish, aligning with the left eye socket. No other external signs or symptom were present in this fish when examined.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Holy cow!! That poor fish!! She didn't stand a chance.