Is This Columnaris?

[Luanda Pym]

Hi wondering if anyone can help.
My male swordtail has something looking like an anenome type of growth at the side of his mouth. Didn't notice it when i bought him but the tank is a month old and fish only in it for 2 weeks, so I'm guessing it's not something from the tank. Ammonia, nitrates and nitrites all fine but will check again tonight. Only bought and put the swordtail in on Sunday 4th Dec, no other fish looking ill, he doesn't seem bothered by it at the moment.
I thought he was eating a bloodworm and had the end sticking out but it looks like its attached to his mouth, it is about 0.5mm in diameter, round with small whitish fronds just at the far end.
I'm very worried this is columnaris, if it is what is the best way to treat, I will seperate him tonight when i get home. Will change the water tonight for the other fish but what about my established filter media??
Can anyone give me a hand?
Thanks for any help
Lu P
have posted better information on the emergency forum

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

It doesn't really sound like columnaris to me, columnaris tends to display more symtoms associated with fungus like cottom wooly growths on the fish's body, slime coat disorders and in extreme cases, open sores/wounds on the fish- it sounds more like to me your fish could either have a parasite of some sort or mouth rot, the main course of action right now is not to treat the fish unesarsarily.
This is what columnaris usually looks like;

....What is more likely though is your fish has is mouth rot, which is sort of like columnaris affecting the mouth;

From your description though your fish could have a parasite though, like anchorworm;

http/www.fishpalace.org/anchorworm1_jj4himsympaticoca.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/anchorworm_johnchilders.jpg

Look anything like waht your fish has?

 

[Luanda Pym]

yeah i've spent all day researching columnaris and i'm almost convinced that it isn't the problem. The mouth rot looks quite fluffy and wide reaching, what my sword tail has is very localised, only one enclosed spot. Have looked at every site i can find and nothing looks like it at all.
the better info in my posting on the emergency forum might give you a better idea of what i mean.
i'm going to wait and see, not treat until i have a better idea. Have contacted the LFS I bought him from and they say none of the others in his old tank are showing signs of anything nasty, which is encouraging.
time will tell (or kill all my fish!)
Thanks for your info, any other thoughts gratefully received!
Lu P

My amateurish drawing displayed on a friend website might help someone identify this.
Any ideas?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its difficult to say, but does it look more like this;

http/www.fishpalace.org/unknownworms1_mikeaofa.jpg

http/www.fishpalace.org/unknownworms1_anonymous.jpg

or this..

http/www.fishpalace.org/camallanus_kevinpiper.jpg

Or this(far more likely considering the drawing and description);

http/www.fishpalace.org/unknowngrowth_mikeaofa.jpg


Look anything like what your fish has?

 

[Luanda Pym]

no, no and def no to the first 3, some of those are icky.
I notice that pic of the last link you listed, and apart from not being pink and being a lot smaller thats what it looks like.
And thats a cancer isn't it!
Oh no, my fish has the big C!!!
will keep a close eye on it anyway.
Thanks for all your help
learning fast, with all your help
Cheers
Lu

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Its not nesarsarily cancer, most often these are just fluid filled cists 80% of the time, personally i would treat the tank with a 70% dose of primafix(treats internal and external bacterial infections plus fungal ones), upping the dose to a full dose after 4 or days if there is no sign of improvement- remember to keep good water quality, i would personally do a 40% weekly water change with dechlorinator .

 

[Luanda Pym]

thanks for the help i will do these things and if no change i guess he's fine with just a hairy mole on his lip.
how much stress has this caused me in 1 day! ha ha
Thanks for all the tips

 

[Disco]

If in doubt treat the tank avoid copper based treatments like meth blue and you won't hurt your filter it better safe than sorry. Pimafix by the way is a bay tree oil based anti fungal and for best results use with melafix a tea tree oil based anti bacterial treatment both are generally safe to use with other treatments.