Desperate help needed for lionfish

[Scarebus380]

Hi
I'm new to this forum, so hi to everyone.

I have a lionfish for the last 5 months, he is beautiful and was very happy till 4 days ago he was not interested in his live food, then I noticed he has a white gap above his mouth, photo attached to show. I'm worried it may be a dislocation, can anyone confirm and if so give me some ideas what I can do so I do not loose my lionfish?

Many thanks for your help

 

[Bent]

I posted this in your other thread.

That lion has lockjaw. Lockjaw in humans is caused by tetanus, but lockjaw in lions and other big mouth predators is caused by a inappropriate diet.

What have you been feeding him?

He's doomed btw. Sorry. Once a lion gets lockjaw, and stops eating because of it, it's irreversible as far as I know.

 

[Scarebus380]

I've been feeding him shrimp and live mollies or guppies.
Is it worth getting him out and massage it back myself?

 

[Bent]

I've been feeding him shrimp and live mollies or guppies.
Is it worth getting him out and massage it back myself?

No. Don't force it back, it could damage it. Sometimes it will fix itself, but often not. I'm not sure what the lockjaw mortality rate is, but it's rather high. I've personally never seen one recover.

The mollies and guppies are what caused the problem. You must wean a lion to frozen food and feed a extremely varied diet of saltwater foods. (Squid, clam, scallops, etc.) occasional feedings of live freshwater feeders is OK a few times a year, but a diet that relies on them as a staple will eventually either cause lockjaw or destroy their liver.

Like i said, his jaw may correct itself, but I would not hold out hope. I've heard that it can, but I've never ever seen it. If he does correct it, start feeding it gut loaded shrimp, NO freshwater or brackish fish, and wean it to frozen ASAP or it will happen again.

 

[snorvich]

And not krill.

 

[Scarebus380]

That's the one thing I did avoid giving him.
I'm absolutely gutted, he's such an attraction when people come round!!!

 

[TattedUpFishGuy]

I sure hope he comes around, my lion fish went about two days of not eating but now he's fine. Good luck, I wish I could provide you with advice but fortunately I've never experienced a fish with lockjaw

 

[Sounds Fishy]

I sure hope he comes around, my lion fish went about two days of not eating but now he's fine. Good luck, I wish I could provide you with advice but fortunately I've never experienced a fish with lockjaw

My Lionfish,died about one year ago,and that was preceded by refusing to eat.He died of ich,I believe.However,several times over the course of the 4 years I enjoyed having him in the DT,he'd stop going for his frozen silversides,and It was because they were not good any more having been frozen,so long.When that happened I 'd give him some feeders to stimulate his appetite again.Then it was just a matter of getting new frozen food.Even ate brine shrimp cubes I was feeding my other fish.

Goodluck with yours,and hope that issue resolves.I have never seen that occur.

 

[Bent]

Sorry man. Hope he gets better.

 

[Scarebus380]

I'm just in the process of cycling his new tank, a 500g all to himself!!!!
I'm going to give him a week, if he hasn't eaten I'm going to catch him and try massage it back.
I'll keep all posted

Thanks for the great feedback

 

[Bent]

I'm just in the process of cycling his new tank, a 500g all to himself!!!!
I'm going to give him a week, if he hasn't eaten I'm going to catch him and try massage it back.
I'll keep all posted

Thanks for the great feedback

I would, again, not attempt to massage it back. The lock is from a nutritional defenciency and not from a structural problem. No amount of massaging or forcing it will fix it.

The only way to fix him would be to use the procedure outlined in the reply that sk8r gave you in the other thread, which involves sedatives and tube feeding.