Bass with Red Lips

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the hard and true fact of why bass get red lips? It is the redness in the interior of their mouths, and most of the time I see it on the upper jaw.
I read somewhere and have always thought it had to do with that particular bass' diet of crawfish. But recently I have questioned this and feel that it might be other factors.
Like:
Change in water temp.?
Blood flow to mouth when in prime feading mode?
Season?
Or forage that is being eaten?
Or maybe it's just that the bass is a female and she's going out later.

Does anyone know of a resource I could read or have actual knowledge as to why this happens?

Thanks guys.



fishnislife

[Anonymous]

Trent, I'm going to use one of your pics for an example. It is the best that I could find. Hope you don't mind.








fishnislife

[A9]

Smalma????
That dude knows fish like no one I've ever seen....

[Smalma]

Likely a condition caused by a bacterial infection.

There is whole host of infection loosely referred to as "red mouth". A nasty one is called "enteric red mouth" which is a serious problem with rainbow trout (and other salmonids) in both hatcheries and lakes.

The "red mouth" typically seen in bass (and other fish) usually is not a serious condition (source of mortality) for otherwise healthy fish. The infection often follows some sort of injury and appears to be aggravated by the warm waters temperatures of late summer.

Tight lines
Curt

[Jaxamillian]

You can put lipstick on a bass, but its still a bass.

[dilbert]

Too much lipstick an' er too much rouge,
Gets me excited, leaves me feeling confused.
An' I like my Bass just a little on the trashy side.

[Rich McVey]

Too much lipstick an' er too much rouge,
Gets me excited, leaves me feeling confused.
An' I like my Bass just a little on the trashy side.

:dj: =d>

[bassmasterderek]

Good question! I haven't seen this much lately but was still curious. Good response Smalma makes sense to me!

[Rollin with Rolland]

I have never noticed this condition...good Q and A

[BassFanatic]

I have never noticed this condition...good Q and A

same here never noticed that before. going to keep an eye for that

[BassinBomber]

Too much lipstick an' er too much rouge,
Gets me excited, leaves me feeling confused.
An' I like my Bass just a little on the trashy side.

That's funny,..!

BB

[fishnislife]

Thanks for the info Smalma. Where are you pulling your knowledge from? Is there a resource I can read that explains this?

And if you have the info., one more question.
What about the tails when they are turning red? I notice it seems to be in the bigger females. Does it have to do with spawn or hormones? Or maybe the same condition as mentioned above?

Thanks again.





fishnislife

[Smalma]

Fishnislife -
I pulled it from my memory banks. Those memories are based on past reading and conversation with a couple fish pathologists. For some reason goofy details and genreally useless trivia sticks in my mind

If interested in some reading I suspect that an internet search would yield some information - might try "bacterial red mouth disease in fish" or something similar. Some information would also be available in a "Fish disease" textbook or manual which might be accessed at the pet store or the local library

Regarding the spring "red tails" in large females. I don't know what cause that condition. I do know that the common urban legend that it is caused during spawning is just that a myth. With bass (and other sunfish) it is the males not the females that construct the spawning bed. In addition I have seen that condition on the larger fish (females?) pre-spawn and have wondered if the fish are bring that condition with them as they move from the winter depths to the shallows

I suspect you may be correct in that it is similar to the cause of the red mouth - that is some sort of inflamation/infection from an injury to the fish's tail - much like how some our cuts become inflamed. I don't know what might be the cause of the "injury" to the fish's tail. It might be as simple as just wear on the fish's tail during its period of inactivity during the winter - as the fish remains stationary for extended periods the slow fanning of its tail rubbing the substrate may cause an abrasion. Again I'm just speculating.

Tight lines
Curt

[fishnislife]

Thanks again Curt. I'll check out some of those things you have mentioned and see what I can find.





fishnislife

[Trent Hale]

That fish was caught in April in 54*-4'deep water at long lake. The red could be some kind of sense that lets the fish know if the food its eating is real. I have seen this many times with 3# and bigger bass.