siskiou Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 This is horrible! I just fed my fish and checked them out, and my chromis (about 4 years old) suddenly has horrible holes around his mouth area! They weren't there yesterday, and he is still eating like always. What could this be? The only other fish in the tank are a pink clown (also about 4 years) and a juvenile atlantic blue tang (been in the tank about a month). There's some food aggression, but the tang is usually the loser. I'm just horrified, and not sure if the chromis will heal, but really have no clue how this happened. The holes are on both sides of his mouth and look completely clean, just no skin there at all, and his lips look half detached. From the side, you can see right through him in that area! :( The same chromis had a problem about a month ago, where it looked like he'd had a stroke. He couldn't swim straight, and disappeared for two days. We thought him dead, but he reappeared, a little scratched up, and was acting completely normal again. I thought maybe a large aptaisia got him, and have since removed the rock that they were on, and now this! Could there be some rogue attacker in the tank that has been hiding successfully for years? Water quality is good, with no ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates almost undetectable. PH at 8 - 8.2, salinity 1.024, alk 8, temp 78.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I have had similar things with chromis. But it was always at the base of the tale. I was told it was a parasite that takes a long time to manifest. I eventually lost all the chromis that showed signs. No other fish affetected in my tank. Wish I was of more help. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Thanks! Did it come on really suddenly, from one day to the next, with your fish, too? I searched the net, but so far have found nothing. The fish act perfectly normal, strangely enough, but I can hardly bear to look at him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Mine came on pretty suddenly. Noticed a tiny red spot. Then the next day a hole that looked kinda like some one took a tiny melon scoop and took out a chunk. The next day had a whitish ring around it and later that day the whole tail detatched. I have to euthanise the fish. About three months later it happened to another chromis but this one was able to heal after about a week or so and has been fine since. He just pals around with his other chromis buddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Mine didn't show any signs beforehand. No spots, no nothing, but his mouth is just clean bones today, without flesh or skin, where yesterday he was whole and healthy. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 That is terrible. Sounds different than what I went through. Wish I was more help. I looked on the internet could not really find any thing like you described. Good luck to your fishy pal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellowithgills Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I had the exact same thing happen to a yellow watchman goby. That was 6 months ago and it's still alive and swimming, just with no lower jaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Wow! Did you ever find out what caused this? How does the poor thing eat? I dread what I might find in the morning! Edited to add: this morning the chromis looks no better/worse, and is still eating and acting completely normal. Can a fish grow back flesh and skin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellowithgills Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Most fish just bite and swallow with no real chewing action if the food is small enough. He seems to get by fine. I honestly have no idea what caused it, it's just one of those things i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 Same here! I have absolutely no clue how it could have happened, and so far, the Chromis continues to act utterly normal. I've been trying to take a pic, but he's too fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 Just wanted to report in that my chromis no longer looks like out of a zombie movie, and has almost completely healed up. I still have no clue what happened in the first place, and just hope it never happens again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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