Wound or Deformity?

[LukFox]

I asked this question at the end of my last thread, but I think it may have been ignored since the first question connected to the title was already answered...

So basically, is this clown's mouth just bitten or deformed? He's got torn fins and things, so he's pretty beat up. There's also discoloration. But I know mouth/gill deformities are common in clowns (compared to other deformities), so what is it?

 

[reefman13]

That fish, really just needs some TLC, but he/she has got some sever looking injury to his/her mouth. But if you do a good job at nurturing it you should be okay.

 

[Slakker]

I would guess from the damages elsewhere on the fish that it's an injury. I don't know what more you can do for the poor guy but take good care of him and hope it heals up in such a way that he can still eat and whatnot.

 

[LukFox]

Thanks for the responses. He was eating just fine yesterday (day my bf bought him for me), but today he wouldn't take anything. I've got garlic at the ready in case he refuses food tomorrow, too. He doesn't have any signs of ick or brook, and I at least know he's able to eat, so hopefully he'll do better tomorrow.

 

[guardrail]

you can try to give him small pieces. He may not be eating because he cant get the food. I have a small false that does the same thing because he has a mouth deformation where he can only open half his mouth and he can only eat small things so I take flake and crunch it up cut up shrimp etc...

 

[Slakker]

What have you been feeding? IMO, a clownfish will rarely turn down frozen Cyclopeeze. Apparently it's delicious, nutritious, and perfect for little mouths.

Absolutely try to get him eating, though...I just looked at the pictures again and noticed that he looks pretty thin. I wouldn't be terribly worried as long as everything else remains normal (breathing, swimming, no scratching, no visible signs of any illness), especially if he can eat.

 

[chrisstie]

It is hard to tell from the pic because we're looking through glass with some smears on it but when you say he has some discoloration could you elaborate?

I *might* see a lighter spot or two on him.. like where its just a small area thats slightly lighter than the rest of him? Could be a fluke or two but really would need to see him from the side to tell- its easiest to spot them as opaque spots on the clear parts of the fins. If he was aquacultured it probably isn't but you never know.

Good luck with the little guy- try some cyclopeeze probably or even nutrimar's prawn eggs (ive been trying these in place of cyclopeez and theyw ork well and are also very tiny)

 

[LukFox]

I was feeding him those small New Life Spectrum A+ Thera pellets. He ate like 5 of them on the 22nd. I'll see if I can find my cyclopeez. It's been a while since I've had a fish small enough to eat it haha.

His only discoloration is on his bottom lip where it seems part of it is missing. The rest of his body color looks normal.

 

[LukFox]

Crap, just checked on him- problems. He's not swimming normally this morning. He has one tiny spot near his dorsal fin, but otherwise he looks the same. However he's at the surface and is on his side swimming like he can't right himself. Looks like swim bladder issues. What can I do for him?

[Edit] He's swimming just fine now, actually... Like 5 minutes later, seriously... I hope it doesn't reoccur, but he's fine right now . The room light had been on for 20 minutes too so I don't think I startled him too bad... Weird.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Were the lights off or had they just come on when he was swimming strangely? He could have been sleeping... it's freaked me out a few times when I've caught mine asleep. They go all faded and can look v ill or even dead. Hope your lil' guy is ok... he looks like a cutie

 

[LukFox]

The light had been on for 20 minutes and he was actually swimming around, not just sleeping. It was really weird. My female sleeps on her side at the surface, but it wasn't like that. Thank goodness the little guy is still behaving normally, though.