Thai PBS Verify found a video of a fish with lips resembling human lips that has been viewed more than 1.2 million times. Upon investigation, it was found that the video is real, but experts indicate that it is not actually human-like lips but rather a disease.
Source: TikTok
Process of Verification
Thai PBS Verify found that a TikTok account named “klanarongsepklang” posted a video of a fish with a larger-than-usual mouth on January 9, 2025. The video has garnered more than 1.2 million views, with many viewers questioning whether the fish is real.
The video was also shared on international social media platforms, ex, here, here
Account Owner Confirms the Video is Real
We contacted the account owner, who confirmed that the fish in the video is real and has human-like lips. The fish was a Nile tilapia caught from a regular fish pond, and it was the only one with this unusual feature. The video was taken before the fish was released into the wild.
Expert Opinion: It’s Not Human-like Lips but Tissue Abnormality
Asst.Pro. Dusit Aue-umneoy, head of the Department of Animal and Fisheries Technology at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), explained his expert analysis after reviewing the video. He confirmed that the fish is a normal Nile tilapia raised in a pond. The unusual appearance is likely due to a tissue abnormality in the mouth, possibly caused by swelling or inflammation, which pushes the tissue outward, giving the illusion of human-like lips.
For Nile tilapia, the mouth is normally made up of bones with tissue. It is believed that the fish in the video may have a tissue abnormality inside the mouth that causes swelling and pushes outward through the front of the mouth, creating an unusual appearance.
This abnormality is unlikely to have been present since the fish’s early stages. because if it had lips like this from a young age, it would likely have interfered with feeding, resulting in slower growth or even malnourishment.
Additionally, such a deformity would likely obstruct breathing, as Nile tilapia suck water through their mouths and pass it over their gills. A blockage would reduce the flow of water, making it difficult for the fish to survive, let alone grow to the size seen in the video.
There has been some concern that nitrites and ammonia, which are toxic to fish, may be the cause, but this seems unlikely.
According to both the video footage and the account owner’s description, the fish were raised in a normal pond environment, not overcrowded and without significant waste accumulation. Additionally, none of the other fish visible in the frame exhibited similar symptoms.
If the water quality had been poor, it is expected that multiple fish would show signs of distress, and the symptoms would likely appear differently.
“Based on the video, it’s unlikely that something was inserted into the fish’s mouth. It’s more likely due to illness or some abnormal condition.”
Farm’s Opinion: Likely a Disease
We shared the video with a large tilapia farm, such as “Nam Sai Farm,” for their opinion. They stated it is difficult to make a definitive diagnosis, but they suspect it may not be caused by a reported infectious disease. They believe it could be a tumor. To be certain, tissue samples would need to be examined for pathology.
Fish with Human-like Lips
Currently, the species of fish with the most human-like lips is the Placidochromis phenochilus Mdoka white lips, a cichlid that stands out for its thick, plump lips that resemble human lips.
Image courtesy of: aquariumfishonline.com
Placidochromis phenochilus Mdoka white lips is a species that lives in small groups near the bottom of the water. Their unique lips are used for fighting and grabbing objects floating in the ocean. Originally from Lake Malawi, a large freshwater lake in Africa, these fish grow to about 10 inches. They have bright blue bodies with white lips and are highly adaptable.
