Swordtail Choking?

[rotex5510]

ank size: 55gal
pH: 7.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
kH:
gH:
tank temp: 76

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Male swordtail koi, appears to have a yellow object jammed in his mouth, hard to tell if it is an object or his lips are discolored. Object appears separate from upper lip, and lower lips, though. Fish resting on side, will move if very provoked.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: not yet

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: api leaf zone, api tap conditioner

Tank inhabitants: 3 swordtail koi, 1 sunset platy, 6 peppered cory, 2 julii cory (should be three, can't find third) 1 rubbernose, 2 brochis splendens

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): all swords and two peppers added 2 nights ago, everything else 1 week before

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Forestpisces]

It doesn't look as if there is anything jammed in his mouth to me, it may be a swollen lower lip.

Did you cycle your tank?
Are there any cuts or laserations that you can see?
What is api leafzone i'm not familiar with this?

 

[rotex5510]

Yes, it completed a fishless cycle and qualifying week
No cuts that I can see
Leafzone is a plant fertilzer - hasn't been added since before I added him

His lips seem to be turning yellow, with a gap between his upper lip (or object) and the front of his face

 

[Forestpisces]

Hmmmm

Is he still listless or is he active?
Is his breathing heavy at all?
Swollen stomach or gut?
Also were his gills always that pink?

I'm stabbing in the dark here as i've never come across a fish with this but will do my best to narrow it down going by your symptems.

 

[rotex5510]

lays on side unless disturbed, quickly returns to side
shallow breathing - was sure he was dead at first
no swelling

 

[Forestpisces]

Are his gills normally that pink?

I don't keep livebearers so i wouldn't know.

Have actally checked his mouth? I know it sounds odd but is there anyway you can get a very close look to see if there is something lodged or wether it is his lip?

 

[Forestpisces]

Check the lip for fungus or fluffy white patches if any are seen then treat with anti fungal meds

It could be from what i can tell:

Mouth fungus
Culmunaris
Just a nasty knock

If you suspect it is just a knock then i would add melafix as it may just be a knock although with the fish being very inactive i find thi unlikely

Good luck

 

[fry_forever!]

Maybe take put him in a net, then take a look with a magnifying glass, & perhaps even poke at his mouth very gently with a toothpick or something of the sorts. Careful not to hurt him if it is in fact part of his body. If it's not part of his body, and is not attached, try taking it out carefully with some tweezers. This is a tough situation.

Monitor it for any fluffy white/yellow stuff growing.

But that's all I can think of at midnight.

I hope you find an answer. Just keep that boy isolated.

Good luck!

 

[rotex5510]

I isolated him, but he didn't make it through the night. The two females are doing better. I live in a very high pH city, (8.2) and I'm beginning to think that the store is not doing more than temp acclimating when they get fish in. Time to look for a new store.

 

[fry_forever!]

Aww. Poor guy.
Well, lets just hope that the females don't get it as well....