Is cottonmouth contagious?

[1UCKY]

My Sohal Tang has come up with Cottonmouth. My question is, is this contagious? Currently have a 180 FOWLR. What's a good remedy? Tried catching him to put in quarantine but it's just impossible with all the Live Rocks I have in there.

 

[marrone]

If it's Cotton Mouth, Fungus, you need to get him out of the tank and treat it as it's highly infectious and contagious.

Can you post a picture so we can see if it's truely cotton mouth.

 

[Awibrandy]

This is not advice! Please wait for those that know more concerning this disease.

Just wanted to let you know that the (only survivor from the swf.com fiasco a few months back) red sea sailfin had cotton mouth I knew I wasn't going to be able to catch him so I let nature take it's course. I continued with regular weekly w/c, feeding as normal which includes garlic & vitamins and different types of food. Happy to say no one else got it, and the sailfin is fine. Just my 2 cts. worth.
Happy reefing!:starfish:

See, that's what I was talking about. While I was typing Marrone chimed in, and his advice I would take.

 

[marrone]

If it's Cotton Mouth you should remove the fish and make a very strong salt solution. Soak a rag in it and then wipe the fish mouth. You may also want to try wiping the mouth with 5% silver mercury. You may also try treating with Methylene blue solution.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

No kissing for 2 weeks til it goes away :grumpy:

Seriously tho good luck treating it.

 

[1UCKY]

He currently has greyish-white bumps around his lips. He has his mouth wide open and breathing from one gill. I'll try to take a picture. I tried catching him but like I said b4, it's impossible.

 

[Awibrandy]

But what if he can't be caught? Do you have another suggestion? Or is that it?
I guess I was just lucky.:bigeyes:

 

[reefman]

This is not advice! Please wait for those that know more concerning this disease.

Just wanted to let you know that the (only survivor from the swf.com fiasco a few months back) red sea sailfin had cotton mouth I knew I wasn't going to be able to catch him so I let nature take it's course. I continued with regular weekly w/c, feeding as normal which includes garlic & vitamins and different types of food. Happy to say no one else got it, and the sailfin is fine. Just my 2 cts. worth.
Happy reefing!:starfish:

See, that's what I was talking about. While I was typing Marrone chimed in, and his advice I would take.

it may be lymphocystis. sometimes disease n parasites ,etc r very hard to differentiate. thats y is always good to provides a good pic.

 

[KathyC]

There is a good chance that the fungus is a secondary infection to something that might be bacterial in nature, as fungus is rarely a disease in and of itself. It's cause usually lies elsewhere.

You really need to get him out of the tank & into a QT.

 

[marrone]

I don't think it's lymphocystis as that usually is on the fins and doesn't cause a fish to breath hard. It's also more common in Angel and butterfly.

A picture at this point would help to get a better idea of what the fish has.

If it is Cotton Mouth you really need to get the fish out of the tank and treat it. I don't think it's cotton mouth, as that's pretty rare in marine fish and you would have had to introduce it some how. It's probably some sort of bacteria infection.

 

[marrone]

But what if he can't be caught? Do you have another suggestion? Or is that it?
I guess I was just lucky.:bigeyes:

First you need to ID what it really is. Then from there you can determine the treatment. If he can't get the fish out he'll need to treat the whole tank. Depending on what the fish has he may have no choice but to remove it and treat it that way, even if he has to take the tank apart to get the fish out.

 

[1UCKY]

Here's a PIC. Hope this helps.

 

[marrone]

It's hard to tell but it looks like some sort of fungus on the mouth. You really need to get the fish out of the tank before it spreads to any other fish. At that point you can treat with one of the medicine for fungus that I mention above or see if the LFS has something that treats fungus.

 

[1UCKY]

I'll try to catch him but as you already know, I have over 200LBS of Live Rock in there. I was thinking of doing a major water changetonight. I have Melafix; I hear this is good for treating fungus and what not?

 

[marrone]

If it's fungus on the fish a large water changes isn't going to do anything. You need to treat the fish for it and remove it before it spread to your other fish.

 

[Awibrandy]

I'll try to catch him but as you already know, I have over 200LBS of Live Rock in there. I was thinking of doing a major water changetonight. I have Melafix; I hear this is good for treating fungus and what not?

I'd listen to Marrone if I were you! My sailfin only had one spot, and never had a gaping mouth like that.
What ever it takes, or be prepared to loose everyone in the tank. Stubborness doesn't always pay. I lost everything in a 75 do to an ick outbreak that I couldhave avoided by simply setting up a qt.
And I have a permanent QT now, ready for anything...:fight2:

Best wishes...

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If it's fungus on the fish a large water changes isn't going to do anything. You need to treat the fish for it and remove it before it spread to your other fish.

I agree. Treat the fish that is where the problem is.

 

[regal]

How long have you had the sohal? If it is not new and you don't have any new additions, I will look into your water parameters.

 

[1UCKY]

How long have you had the sohal? If it is not new and you don't have any new additions, I will look into your water parameters.

I've had him for about 2 months or so. My water parameters are all good. I'm attempting to catch him. He is eating good though (only feed them with Zoe and Garlic soaked food every-other day).

 

[1UCKY]

Sadly, the Sohal passed on to fish heaven last night. I managed to catch him last night and put him in the hospital tank and treated him with some medication. I woke up this morning only to find him dead:frown:. Whatever it was that he had killed him instantly. I'm about to do a major water change on my system.