Yellow Lab has dark line around mouth?!

[dcallen]

Hi all,

I probably should have piggy backed this question on my last thread about my fish dying but since he may not be dying I thought I would start a new one with a specific question about my Yellow Lab.

The Yellow Lab has developed a dark brown or black thin line around his mouth, it looks like he drank chocolate milk, it doesn't look normal to me, and he also has some dark pigment underneath his mouth, I haven't been able to find any pics of a Yellow Lab that has this strange coloration. Is this normal or a sign of some disease?

Thanks for the help.

[Faramir]

I've seen this a lot. It doesn't appear to be a disease.

[dcallen]

Faramir,

Thanks for the quick reponse, that makes me feel better. If you happen to see any pics of a Yellow Lab that has this coloration and could pass on a link, it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks again..

[jimbo]

Mine looks just like Frank Zappa sometimes. (For those who know him)
He's got a black moustache and a little black beard as well.

[dcallen]

Jimmy,

Thanks for the input. I know Frank Zappa, that must look pretty funny. Does he only exhibit this coloration from time to time or is it more consistent?

[jimbo]

Most of the time when he “imitates” Zappa, is when he comes out of his cave and sometimes when he's really "angry"
After a while it turns from black into a greyish moustache and beard, but it seems to disappear when he’s just minding his own business, ignoring everyone and everything.

[dcallen]

Jimmy,

That's very interesting behavior, sounds like a cool fish.

[jimbo]

It sure is, but don't get me wrong, he does that without making sound :D

[Ji@nBing]

:p haha. yeah, mine has the mustache too. usually only when i first turn on the lights for them in the morning. it's gone withing 10-15 mins. i dunno why that is but it's funny

[Traci]

My dad keeps cichlids, and has about 15 (hard to get an accurate count because they breed SO much and there is always just 1 or 2 more than you actually think!) of yellow labs. I "fishsat" over the weekend and also thought something was wrong with a couple of them because of the discoloration around the mouth. Actually, at first I thought they were eating pleco poop! Anyway, I asked my dad about it, and he said that the males get that way when they are "in heat." I took a closer look and at least 2 of the females are mouth brooding, so I guess he's right?

Anyway, thought I'd throw it out there.