Tumor on lower lip of Gardneri killie?

[Jane of Upton]

Hello,

I am fairly new to killies, but have been keeping fish and live plants for over 15 years. I have a group of Gardneri killies (Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianus) that includes two females and three males.

About two months ago I noticed that the dominant male had what looked like a swollen lower lip. I thought perhaps this might be something to do with his "top" status (I had White Cloud Minnows years before in which the most dominant males got larger lower lips).

But this is NOT centered on the lower lip, it is on the right half, and it has continued to grow, almost looking like he has a small sinking pellet on his mouth. Also, the appearance is irregular, and bulbous. In the weeks since I first noticed this, he seems to no longer be the top ranked fish, either. The other two males have been jockeying for status, and the fish that was previously second-ranked now is the "king".

Is there anything I can do for this fish? Could it be something contagious which I should protect the other fish from catching?

Any ideas as to what this is? I kind of suspect its (hopefully) a benign cyst-like growth, or, at worst, something cancerous.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jane

[KillieOrCory]

Hmmm... a tough one. Without seeing the growth I am not sure what it might be but...

I had a male Fp.marmaratum a while back which had a growth happening on the lower lip very similar to what you describe and it got bigger and bigger over many weeks. After a while it started changing colour and turned furry!!! I then realised it was a fungal growth and liberally salted his tank. A couple of days later I found the whole growth on the bottom of the tank. By then it was pea sized. Continued my water changing as per usual, and the male was as good as new after a couple of weeks.

This is the only experience with growth on my fish I came accross in the last twenty odd years of keeping fish (touch wood!) so yours might be similar or a completely different problem!!!

Gee, I am so usefull!!!

Cheers,

Serkan

[erikthur]

Might be of traumatic origin.
Caused by swimming into the aquarium sides when scared.
Which sometimes later can be invaded by fungus.

[TyroneGenade]

Nothos get similar growths as they age. Best we could judge, thet are kankers, growths, that sprout from iritated tissue. It does not seem infectious but comes from age and repeated ware on the tissues.

I do not think you need be too concerned.