Red Eye Tetra Mouth Stuck Open

[Dumper]

I have 3 red eye tetras that have been together for quite awhile. I used
them to cycle a tank and they are healthy and have grown considerably since
I got them. I just noticed that one of them is swimming around with his
mouth open wide all the time and apparently cannot close it. Is it possible
he was fighting with one of the other tetras and got his jaw broken. I have
never observed any hostile behavior between any of them and have not seen
them fighting. Are tetras like some other fish that lock lips and fight
each other that way? What can I do with this one?





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[Frank]

Dumper wrote,
> I just noticed that one of them is swimming around with his
>mouth open wide all the time and apparently cannot close it.
>Are tetras like some other fish that lock lips and fight
>each other that way? ....

Tetras fight, nip at eachother. The locking lips and twisting thing is
mainly a chiclid thing. Fighting, chemical agents, toxins, any of which
could cause cell injury. Cells can react by modifying themselves
slighty, thus adapt to the injury. These adaptations may be reversible,
but can also react by becoming permanently altered. This is one of
those things you have to sit back, watch, and can really do
nothing................... Frank

[Dumper]

Thanks Frank. He/She is just hanging out at the top of the tank in the flow
from my spraybar. He will swim around if I disturb him but still cannot
close his mouth. I know he will probably not be able to eat this way and it
must be uncomfortable for him. I sure hate to get rid of him since he has
been with me thru cycling a 38 gal tank and more recently a move to a 72 gal
bowfront. He and the other two have gotten quite large and are a flashy
silver with a black band around their tail. Altogether an attractive,
active fish but I feel sorry for him. All the other fish in the tank are
quite happy and healthy so I don't suspect anything in the tank that might
have caused his condition.


"Frank" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Dumper wrote,
>> I just noticed that one of them is swimming around with his
>>mouth open wide all the time and apparently cannot close it.
>>Are tetras like some other fish that lock lips and fight
>>each other that way? ....
>
> Tetras fight, nip at eachother. The locking lips and twisting thing is
> mainly a chiclid thing. Fighting, chemical agents, toxins, any of which
> could cause cell injury. Cells can react by modifying themselves
> slighty, thus adapt to the injury. These adaptations may be reversible,
> but can also react by becoming permanently altered. This is one of
> those things you have to sit back, watch, and can really do
> nothing................... Frank
>



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[Mellie101]

Hi, this might not be relelvant but when Koi Lo's fish had its mouth
stuck closed I did a bit of searching on the web. The only thing I
could find was fish with their mouths stuck open. 99% of the time it
was a small object stuck in there, usually a stone. Most of the time
it couldn't be seen and wasn't until it was 'too late' that they
managed to see the object in there. Hope this isn't the case and that
all is well now.

Mellie

[Dumper]

Thanks Mellie. I don't think there are any stones in the tank small enough
for him to pick up. The only thing I can think of is possibly a shrimp
pellet. I can't get him to turn towards me long enough to see what might be
in there. If he is still up and going in the morning I may net him and see
if I can figure out what's going on.



"Mellie101" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi, this might not be relelvant but when Koi Lo's fish had its mouth
> stuck closed I did a bit of searching on the web. The only thing I
> could find was fish with their mouths stuck open. 99% of the time it
> was a small object stuck in there, usually a stone. Most of the time
> it couldn't be seen and wasn't until it was 'too late' that they
> managed to see the object in there. Hope this isn't the case and that
> all is well now.
>
> Mellie
>



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[Koi-Lo]

*Note: There are TWO "Koi-Lo's" on this NG*

"Mellie101" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi, this might not be relelvant but when Koi Lo's fish had its mouth
> stuck closed I did a bit of searching on the web. The only thing I
> could find was fish with their mouths stuck open.

It wasn't stuck closed - it had suddenly taken on a vertical shape, vertical
and slitlike, and couldn't close it's mouth. It looked like someone
*pinched* it vertically and that's how it stayed. It can only eat small
bits of food. * O * is a normal GF face looking at it head on. Mine looks
like this. * | * Instead of a roundish mouth it's now almost meeting on
the sides.

99% of the time it
> was a small object stuck in there, usually a stone. Most of the time
> it couldn't be seen and wasn't until it was 'too late' that they
> managed to see the object in there. Hope this isn't the case and that
> all is well now.
>
> Mellie
>
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Mellie101]

Sorry Koi-Lo forgot it was an 'unusual' shape. Sorry to hear it is
still like it. Is there any improvement?
Dumper, keep us posted. Hope it is only temporary.
Amazing the amount of worry a fish can give you. Still wouldn't change
it.

Mellie

[Koi-Lo]

"Mellie101" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Sorry Koi-Lo forgot it was an 'unusual' shape. Sorry to hear it is
> still like it. Is there any improvement?

No. It looks exactly the same and seems to be doing ok. It's managing to
eat enough to live. It's really got me puzzled as I had the same thing
happen to another GF some years ago. I can't find any explanation.....

> Dumper, keep us posted. Hope it is only temporary.
> Amazing the amount of worry a fish can give you. Still wouldn't change
> it.
>
> Mellie
>
--
Koi-Lo....
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Dumper]

Well, the poor guy/girl did nothing but hang out at the top of the tank
facing the water flow from my spray bar. Couldn't eat and looked mighty
uncomfortable. I netted it and checked it with a strong light and
magnifying glass and could find nothing wrong except the lower jaw just hung
uselessly. He is now swimming in the large aquarium in the sky.



"Mellie101" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Sorry Koi-Lo forgot it was an 'unusual' shape. Sorry to hear it is
> still like it. Is there any improvement?
> Dumper, keep us posted. Hope it is only temporary.
> Amazing the amount of worry a fish can give you. Still wouldn't change
> it.
>
> Mellie
>



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[Altum]

Dumper wrote:
> Well, the poor guy/girl did nothing but hang out at the top of the tank
> facing the water flow from my spray bar. Couldn't eat and looked mighty
> uncomfortable. I netted it and checked it with a strong light and
> magnifying glass and could find nothing wrong except the lower jaw just hung
> uselessly. He is now swimming in the large aquarium in the sky.

Poor fellow. Sometimes it's best.

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to email me.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

[Mister Gardener]

http://www.angelsbycarolyn.com/angelsnow.htmlOn Sat, 06 May 2006
18:46:47 GMT, Altum > wrote:

>Dumper wrote:
>> Well, the poor guy/girl did nothing but hang out at the top of the tank
>> facing the water flow from my spray bar. Couldn't eat and looked mighty
>> uncomfortable. I netted it and checked it with a strong light and
>> magnifying glass and could find nothing wrong except the lower jaw just hung
>> uselessly. He is now swimming in the large aquarium in the sky.

There's an aquarium up there? Cool! That gives me more incentive to be
good while I'm down here.

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

[Frank]

Dumper wrote,
>Well, the poor guy/girl did nothing but hang out at the top of the tank
>facing the water flow from my spray bar. Couldn't eat and looked mighty
>uncomfortable. .....

First symptom of internal parasitic problem. Have you added any new
fish or plants within the last month? You might want to feed a
medicated food for 10 days, or treat the tank with Triple Sulfa, or
TMP-Sulfa, or Sulfa 4TMP.

>He is now swimming in the large aquarium in the sky...

Way to quick for it to starve to death. I sure would keep an eye out
for changes in behavior - that tetra didn't just up and die for no
reason! .............. Frank