Help! Freshwater Angel With Huge Swollen Lips.

[bgkfangelfish]

I have an almost 2 year old freshwater angelfish who has recently developed swelling on his lips. They look huge and it seems like the swelling is spreading, but it may just be my obsessing over this. (They're not growths, no discoloration, just swelling)

I love my little stripey friend. I bought antibiotics (the edible gel kind), but he won't eat them, and I can't seem to find anyone that knows what this is.

The only article I've seen about this just shows a fish that died from this, but it doesn't say what it is or how to treat it.

 

[bgkfangelfish]

I have an almost 2 year old freshwater angelfish who has recently developed swelling on his lips. They look huge and it seems like the swelling is spreading, but it may just be my obsessing over this. (They're not growths, no discoloration, just swelling)

I love my little stripey friend. I bought antibiotics (the edible gel kind), but he won't eat them, and I can't seem to find anyone that knows what this is.

The only article I've seen about this just shows a fish that died from this, but it doesn't say what it is or how to treat it.

anyone know anything about this?

 

[wackystarfish]

Is it that his lips are swollen or that he is just poking his mouth out, if that makes sense...

 

[Tolak]

Lip fibroma, happens on occasion with angels. Thought to be viral, though not contagious.

If the angel is still eating, leave it be. If eating is a problem, it's a surgical deal. Sharp x-acto knife, or single edged razor blade, wet clean towel, and a clean flat surface to work on. You don't want the fish out of water for more than about a minute. It's better to remove too little than too much, and the top lip is more touchy than the bottom.

After this little procedure, a hospital tank, 50% water changes daily for about a week, with melafix.

 

[bgkfangelfish]

Eating clearly isn't a problem yet.

But I doubt I'd be able to stomach chopping off parts of my fish, even if they are infections or viruses.

Haha, and it's definitely not that he's just feeding (aka pushing his mouth out).