Black Cap with mouth open

[spunkykitty78]

Hello,

Hey guys,

I've had my BlackCap Basslet for almost two weeks now. When I first got him, I put him in the QT that I had set up about a month prior. In that tank, I had put a filter that was running in my established tank, thinking the bacteria could break down the waste from the new fish. What I forgot was that if those bacteria aren't fed for four weeks, they die. Then, I added the new black cap and in a few days, I detected ammonia and nitrite at small but existing levels. I noticed the Blackcaps mouth open. I moved him over to the display tank and thought his mouth would close in a few days. It has been a week and its still open. In all other respects, he seems great! He eats all the brine shrimp I put in the tank and swims great.

Is there reason for concern?

 

[Stuart60611]

Not sure if this helps, but basslets often open their mouths to intimidate tankmates away from their territory. When I housed my gramma, he would often engage in this behavior directed at a tankmate and/or at its own reflection.

 

[spunkykitty78]

Interesting.. Thanks.