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Gang,

I recently stacked up my Neons, from 1 to 5 and then to 8.

A day after I added the last 3, I noticed a strange growth on at least 2 of the 8 (don’t know
if it were the new ones). It almost looks like a tiny blister that is located in the middle of the
lower lip (if fish would have lips).

It doesn’t seem to bother the individuals, the swim with the team (if they are ganging up)
and eat normal.

I have to say that I paid particular attention after my latest addition because the previous
2 sets of Neons both started an Ich outbreak in my tank. This means that I don’t know if
some Neons just look like that. Today, I went to 3 LFSs and observed their Neons and saw
at least in 2 of them similar trades.

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate are all 0, PH is 6.8, temp of 80F. Additional tank details can be
found [link=here]http:// www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406.html?200507071957" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link].

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

OK Ingo that is a strange one, basically Neons with a Fat Lip...I'm not sure if any of mine have a "fat lip" or not, but I'll be sure to check when I get home, out of 22 if it is something that happens normally it seems one of them will have it and I'll check my glowlights as well

Keep an eye on them and do a little cleaning on the tank with a bit of an additional water change won't hurt, then do a wks dose of melafix to be safe, until someone else says to do different. I'll report back tomorrow on if any of mine have fat lips or not...

heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Hello. I think your Neons may have a type of lip fungus. Do you have any photos of the growth?

Heidi and -NeonTetraFan-

Thanks for the responses; I will tag on more info here:

-NeonTetraFan- : Sorry, I still don’t have a digital camera. I even doubt that the Neons would do me the favor to pose for me in just the right angle to even see it. It is really not big and hasn’t been growing ever since I noticed it first. Do you mean by “lip fungus” the illness of mouth fungus? It doesn’t seem to be that as I cannot see any fuzzy structure, it really is more like a blister.

Heidi: Do you think it is a good idea to add melafix to the tank after I just finished a 2 week treatment for Ich? I used Quick Cure (1/4 dose every other day) and shouldn’t that med have done the same? I read that mouth fungus can be treated with Malachite green and that is one of Quick Cure’s ingredients.

Thanks,

Please update me soon so I can go and get any additional medication, if needed.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 10-Jul-2005 05:52

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, as of noon today, it seems like that at least 4 of my Neons have this "blister".

By now I doubt that has always been this way and I guess some bacterial infection is going on.

I will go out in about 2h and buy the melafix as suggested by Heidi, if I don't hear otherwise from any of you.

Thanks,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry Ingo I was out and about and barely got on too long ago:#(

I would go ahead and treat with the Melafix for a week and see if there is any improvement, you could also add the pimafix with the melafix they are supposed to do wonders together...Of course if they begin to look stressed quit!!! I don't really think it is a fungus as it is just swollen? Do that and I'll check with you tomorrow...heidi

ps do a water change first

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Heidi,

I guess I was anticipating your reply and did just that.

I performed a 25% water change and about 3 hours later added 1/2 a dosage of Melafix and 1/2 a dosage of Primafix. The LFS where I purchased the medication said that I could have used the full dosage of each, but it would be better the half them a) to avoid a potential over-dosage and b) not to cloud the water too much.

I will continue to dose this amount once a day for 7 days and then perform my next water changes. Interestingly, Aquarium Pharmaceuticals says on their web site to do a water change after 3 days on all their medications, but the bottles themselves say 7 days.

Thank you for this advice, even if I received it after the fact, it still helps me by confirming that my approach is most likely suitable.

Ingo

Last edited by Little_Fish at 11-Jul-2005 07:23

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

No problem, I usually go with my first instinct as well, until someone tells me otherwise, but when someone reaffirms what I was thinking it is a relief...

I don't guess I've ever visited their website to see what they recommend there I guess if they recommend a water change after 3 days on the net, maybe do a 10% water change, not as much as you would normally do, but not waiting as long either? I'm wondering if the recommendation from their site would help prevent the "smell" the meds create in the tank???

Either way I hope this fixes their fat lips, as it bothers me to think why they have themI've sat and watched my fools and as hard as they swim and occassionally crash noone seems to have any fatlips...keep an eye on them...heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Gang,

A week has gone by since I noticed this problem, I have been treating the tank now for 6 days with 1/2 a dosage of Melafix and 1/2 a dosage of Primafix.

I don’t see any improvement, instead it appears that my zebra danios are now getting the mouth growth / decoloration as well. It is not a white line around the mouth, although it is hard to tell with such little mouths. I think it might be a form of mouth fungus (Columnaris).

Having treated the tank and seeing no positive results, what should I do? Supposedly, Columnaris is very contagious which would explain why more and more of my fish are showing the signs. I am worried that I will loose them all (including my platy and 9 10weeks old platy fry that currently show no signs) if I wait too long.

Edit: I read that a treatment bath containing phenoxyethanol would help, has anybody ever done that? If so, did you have success?

Any input is appreciated,

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 16-Jul-2005 08:44

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I talked to the guy I go to when am in need of a brain to pick in person and he suspects that your neons may have a viral infection. If this is the problem he says that there isn't a cure for it:#( I don't know, and of course since he isn't looking at the fish, and is just going by my word of mouth from reading your posts, it could be there was something missing.

I've never tried the whatever bath, but it might be worth a shot...I don't know, don't give up...things will get better, heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

I have had this happen to my harlequin rasboras. Usually it happens to the older ones, and, sadly, all those who have had this have passed away.

I hope you have better luck than I did with this "lip thing"