TeeMiniReef
New member
Hello Everyone,
I've been looking on the web for answers and so far I've found no similar cases.
I have had a lovely 5" Orange-Spot Rabbitfish for about 6 mos. now and he is in excellent care and housing, currently sharing a tank with a blind clownfish. I know water quality is dead on, no problems there. I woke up this morning to feed them and noticed he isn't gobbling up food as much as he usually does. Obviously not the result of fighting, his teeth look broken! He usually has a nice row of thin, file-like teeth, but it literally appears that he's been in a fight and punched in the mouth. They are all pointing backwards and his mouth's interior is so swollen that I'm afraid if I don't do something soon he'll choke to death and drown. I'm debating taking him out and doing minor surgery - removing the broken teeth in order to free the passage for water to his gills. I'd imagine they will grow back but am not 100% sure on that. I'm also afraid if I do this will I stress him to death or lead to infection (which I can combat if necessary). This does not look like disease, but a horrible injury. Any opinions on what I should do?
Thank you so much everyone!
I've been looking on the web for answers and so far I've found no similar cases.
I have had a lovely 5" Orange-Spot Rabbitfish for about 6 mos. now and he is in excellent care and housing, currently sharing a tank with a blind clownfish. I know water quality is dead on, no problems there. I woke up this morning to feed them and noticed he isn't gobbling up food as much as he usually does. Obviously not the result of fighting, his teeth look broken! He usually has a nice row of thin, file-like teeth, but it literally appears that he's been in a fight and punched in the mouth. They are all pointing backwards and his mouth's interior is so swollen that I'm afraid if I don't do something soon he'll choke to death and drown. I'm debating taking him out and doing minor surgery - removing the broken teeth in order to free the passage for water to his gills. I'd imagine they will grow back but am not 100% sure on that. I'm also afraid if I do this will I stress him to death or lead to infection (which I can combat if necessary). This does not look like disease, but a horrible injury. Any opinions on what I should do?
Thank you so much everyone!
