Clownfish Mouth Stuck Open

[tallguy88]

This afternoon came home and found my clownfish with what appears to be mouth stuck open. He stays on the same corner and just bobs around some kind of nose diving into the sand bed. The mated clownfish on occasion comes over and nudges him or swims next to him. He doesn't seem to go after food. I did use pellet food for the first time a few days ago hope he didn't swallow one... If so anything I can do? Any ideas?

I have read many different things about jaw locked and other possibilities but I put a picture of him here. Any ideas?!

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I have a royal gramma that had the same problem. He was ok after a couple of days. He had just over extended his jaw while being territorial with another fish. I have heard of some that manually manipulated the jaw back into place.

 

[tallguy88]

Update: This morning I noticed his gils seem to be open more then the other clownfish you can see some red inside his Gils. In his mouth it seems to have what looks like white hair very tiny. Any ideas? Kinda making me think it's not just his jaw stuck open. I did feed this morning he swam up food went in his mouth but couldn't close his mouth to hold it.

 

[Jpugh73]

Maybe he went after a brisleworm and stung his mouth

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Maybe he went after a brisleworm and stung his mouth

Yep, could very well be. I had a watchman goby that ate a bristle worm. After a couple if days he was fine.

 

[Jpugh73]

Hopefully in a couple of days he will pull though to

 

[Newsmyrna80]

How's the clown?

 

[tallguy88]

His condition never got better. This morning he was laying on the sand and moved when I got near the glass. Came home from work and he was belly up. The other clownfish looks healthy so I am going to wait a few weeks see if he gets sick. Maybe it was just the locked jaw and since he couldn't eat really he starved. That's my best guess.

This is my first saltwater tank about three monthes into it. I have lots to learn. Now have one clown and my clean up crew. We will see how it goes.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Fish can go several days without eating. But I would still do what you are doing and see what the other clown does.

 

[tallguy88]

Other clown fish and other fish are all ok. My best guess it was his jaw that got stuck open and wouldn't unhinge.