Black Mouth

[Smudgeboss]

I have a small tank with a little herd of black skirt tetras. One has developed black lips. all the other fish have grey/white lips and he did too at one time. He acts perfectly normal and eats okay. socializes with the others all right. Lips are swollen a little too. this has been for quite a while, now I notice that he is getting black markings on other parts of his body. What do you think?

 

[littlecich]

Could you get a photo of the black skirt tetra? It may help to id what the problem is, or if it's just natural coloring.

 

[Smudgeboss]

Pictures will be coming, probably tomorrow.
Thanks

 

[jrp1588]

I have a black skirt that did the very same thing. After months and months he eventually went back to normal. No clue what it was

 

[Smudgeboss]

Thanks. that is encouraging, even if I don't have the pics up yet

 

[RJRofFL]

Hi smudgeboss.

Fish color change can be attributed to many things, stress & sickness being some of them. However, I have been often advised that lighting can be a contributing factor, particularly with black skirts.

Perhaps a little more subdued lighting while watching him carefully might help.

Just a thought.

Bob