Fat Lip

[djb]

i own a black pacu n within the past 6 weeks i have noticed that his bottom lip keeps swelling up n then going back down again. i have owned the fish 4 nearly a year and i'd like 2 know the cause of this problem if there is any1 familiar with this problem please help.
i have done water samples and i have no ammonia in the water or any poisoning, and have used anti fungus treatment and ammonia remover n yet he still has the problem
cheers djb

 

[Colin_T]

Fish quite often bump into the sides of the tank and develop a fat lip. This can swell up and look unsightly for a few days to a week or more. Then the swelling goes down and the mouth looks normal again. Pacus are nervous fish and it could be the fish is simply panicking and swimming into the side of the tank.

Make sure the water quality is really good and clean the gravel and filter. Clean water will help to prevent secondary infections from developing, and limit some of the stress factors that can make fish nervous, (ie: high nitrates and low PH).
Turn the room lights on or open the curtains about 30 minutes before you turn the tank light on.

 

[djb]

Fish quite often bump into the sides of the tank and develop a fat lip. This can swell up and look unsightly for a few days to a week or more. Then the swelling goes down and the mouth looks normal again. Pacus are nervous fish and it could be the fish is simply panicking and swimming into the side of the tank.

Make sure the water quality is really good and clean the gravel and filter. Clean water will help to prevent secondary infections from developing, and limit some of the stress factors that can make fish nervous, (ie: high nitrates and low PH).
Turn the room lights on or open the curtains about 30 minutes before you turn the tank light on.

 

[djb]

i have done everything i can 4 the pacu ,even the people at the aquatics were happy with the water when they dun a test on it.
im thinking i mite have 2 put him out of his misery cus he got sum nasty white stuff on his head n it seems 2 be kind of eating him away he had it b4 n it seems 2 have cum back n i just don't no wot 2 do 4 him any more n i don't like seeing suffer ,i have a pleck in there also n he seems 2 be fine so i think its the fish n not the water

 

[Colin_T]

It could be the fish has damaged itself by swimming into something and now has developed a bacterial or fungal infection. Fungus is usually white and fluffy and sticks out from the body. If the fish has a white mouth (not fluffy) and the face, mouth and head are eroding away, then it probably has Columnaris (mouth fungus). This can usually be treated with a broad spectrum medication.
Do a search for Columnaris and see what people recommend to treat it.
It should respond to medication and come good

 

[djb]

i have been giving him fin rot and anti fungus treatment on n off 4 a good 5 weeks, i also cleaned the gravel and filter but it looks like my filter sponge is on its way out,wud that have any difference?

he has got white stuff on top his head and i not long noticed has has a red spot on his lower lip, he's got got stuff growing on the inside of his lower lip and every now n then his lower lip swells up 2 twice the size.
his head does look like its aroding away.

 

[djb]

i have seen wot i need n i'd like 2 say thank u 4 ur help

 

[WILDER]

Any whiteness to the red spot on his lip.
Columnaris can look fluffy and eat the skin away.
You will need a bacterial med.
For columnaris in the uk myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

Interpet med finrot and fungus med dosn't always work on columnaris if its a bad strain.

 

[djb]

well i been told 2 get sum tmp sulfa sulfa4 tmp tripple sulfa n any of these should do the trick but i don't know where 2 get it or wot 2 do with it when i do get some
have u any suggestions please ?

 

[Colin_T]

any petshop will sell triple sulpha or tri sulpha medication. Just follow the directions on the pack.

 

[djb]

thank u
i just don't understand why avon aquatics don't sell i went up there yesterday n they told me 2 go 2 a chemist cus its chemicals lol
is there a bane 4 the stuff or do i just ask 4 these names ?

 

[Colin_T]

There are heaps of different brands but the one I use is "Wardley's Triple Sulpha", which should be available in the USA. Other countries should carry Wardley's products as well and if they don't, they will have other brands of Tri or Triple Sulpha.

I doubt you will be able to get it from a chemist, but you could try. Unfortunately I can't give you dose rates if you do get some from a chemist as I have no idea what the concentration of the stuff will be from them.

If your local petshop doesn't sell it, then ring a couple of others. Someone will have it.

 

[djb]

ok il try that thank you,is it possible 4 him 2 get well on his own tho cus i have noticed that his lip hasn't swelled up since saturday.
I cleaned the stones out again and the filter and pulled it above the suface so it has oxygen in the water.he seems a lot better pluss he still has his appetite which is a good thing.

 

[Colin_T]

if the fish has a bruised lip and it isn't an infection, then yes it can heal up by itself. Doing a partial water change and gravel clean each day will often help because it dilutes any disease organisms in the water and also dilutes any waste products in the tank. However, if it is caused by a disease like Columnaris, then it will need treating.

 

[djb]

i have noticed now that the red spot on his lip has gone do u think thats a sign of improvement ?
his bottom lip hasnt swelled up since saturday i cleand the gravel and the filter altho i think i need a new sponge in there.
there is still sum black stuff on his lower lip but its been there so long im not sure if its part of him any more or wots caused by the infection,the easiest way i can describe it is that it looks like a fussel or a spongy kind of look 2 it.