Cotton Mouth Cotton Wool Disease Mouth Fungus

Usually the flexibacter bacterium

loss of appetite Progressive thinness off-white marks around the mouth or on the fins or body of the fish white cotton-wool-like tufts in the mouth region reddened ulcers frayed fins 'shimmying' behavior

Initial signs of the onset of the disease are usually off-white marks around the mouth or on the fins or body of the fish. As the infection spreads, typical white cotton-wool-like tufts appear in the mouth region, with reddened ulcers on the body and frayed fins. In scaleless fish, a reddened edge may occur to any ulcers, and most affected fish-especially livebearers-often exhibit typical 'shimmying' behavior, go off their food and appear very thin. This disease is especially common in newly imported freshwater fish or freshwater fish in poor condition because of incorrect pond or aquarium care. A sudden change in water quality or generally unsuitable water conditions may trigger off the disease in previously healthy fish. Overstocking and infrequent water changes may also bring on an attack of cotton-wool disease.

Treatment