Help! Fish has White Lips!!

[fish2013]

I noticed today that two of the Damsel's in my mothers saltwater tank have what looks like white fuzz on their lips. One only has a small spot and the other damsel's lips are completely white. I will try to post a picture. I have tried to look it up and it's possible that it may be cotton mouth but I'm not completely certain. No one noticed it yesterday and it is pretty obvious so I'm almost certain that the fish were fine last night. What do you think it is and how can I treat it? Thank you.

 

[beth]

Can you confirm that it is fuzzy of just bleached out? It could be that they are attempting to nip at corals, which would sting.

 

[fish2013]

Well it looks like all three damsels have the white on their lips but none of the other fish in the tank seem to be affected. The one with all white lips looks like it is a little fuzzy on the corners of its mouth but not a lot. It also cannot close its mouth but the other two jut have a small spot with no fuzz.

 

[beth]

You have a reef tank, so I am thinking that there is not much that can done about this situation. I'm sure you don't want to try to remove these fish as that would totally disrupt your tank and place many more animals at risk; and attempting any type of treatment in the tank would devastate a reef tank.
Are these fish new additions to the system?

 

[fish2013]

They are not new to the tank. She has had them for about 3 years now. We have tried multiple times to catch them but with a reef tank and so many hiding holes that's easier said then done. I'm worried that if we don't catch the one with white lips soon that he may die since he is having troubles eating.

 

[meowzer]

What type of clean up crew do you have? And how large are these damsels?

 

[beth]

Post of your water readings and what are you feeding these fish? Did you add new coral recently?

 

[fish2013]

She has 1 banded coral shrimp, some turban snails, two hermit crabs, and I think it's called a blenny?... Ill have to get back to you on the water reading. The most recent coral she got was about 6 months ago. She feeds them 'new life spectrum marine fish formula' 'new era marine pellets' and occasionally some prime reef frozen food

 

[beth]

Has anyone noticed if the fish are nipping at corals?

 

[fish2013]

No on had notice coral biting but we just noticed they have definitely been fighting. One of the fish has almost no tail now :-( we managed to get him out of the tank and into a quaranty tank but I don't think he will make it. Welli guess that solves the mystery but its unforunate in this case. Thanks everyone for your help.