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Help!
I have got 2 catfish and one has developed some strange growths around its mouth - see picture.
I have spoken to my local aquarium shop - they just think it's normal growth (!?) and I have also contacted Sera medication who think it is viral and non-treatable.

My larger catfish now looks like he is developing the same problem!!

Anyone ever seen anything like this?

Thanks

That looks like lymphosists which is a virus. As far as I know, there isn't anything you can do about it. It usually goes away on its own & normally doesn't return. if around the inside of the mouth it can create problems if it gets large enough to interfere with eating but where it is now it doesn't appear that it'll cause any trouble.

Hi,

I agree. Looks like Lymphocystis. Do you have a close-up of the mouth?

It's a tumor caused by a virus and there is no treatment. It's infectious, so your pleco can give it to its tankmates. Some sources recomment culling of infected animals. The symptoms will probably disappear, but the virus is still there. You fish might get a secondary infection (bacteria/fungus) that can be treated. But in this case I'd be more worried that the pleco might have trouble eating. So watch him closely.

Can other types of fish catch this virus - e.g. ordinary goldfish and loaches as that is what I have got in the tank.

I'm worried that my other catfish already has it so should I take them both out?

I happen to be moving next weekend so I have got to do a new set up when I get to my new place so would it be an idea not to put the 2 cats back in?

Lymphocystis usually goes away once the water conditions improve. If your fish are healthy and in good shape they should not succumb to the disease. Once you improve the water conditions the affected fish will fight the disease off itself - you will see the growths become smaller and eventually fall off. The fish will have a scar for a while which will eventually heal.
We have had affected fish in the past - the disease usually develops on fish who have been kept in poor water conditions just after being collected and during transport. On one occasion only we lost the fish, but no other fish got affected. All the other fish recovered.

Thanks for all your replies.

I have done a water change and tested the water. The cat that was the first to be 'infected' looks ok - still feeding and swimming around. My other cat - bigger one - has not got any more signs of the spongy stuff.

i agree that it appear to be a lesion caused by Lyphocysistis. a bit rare compared to it's occurence among marine tropicals but it happens.
As others have said, the lesion ofen goes away and no treatment will effect it. think of it as a fishy version of oral Herpes as it occurs in humans.