Yellow Tang mouth open, help please!!!!

[Snarl]

Hi guys,

My yellow tang in my 75 gallon has its mouth constantly open, is no longer eating pellets and barely picking at algae sheets ( nori). My waters parameters have been in check and just double checked them. Ive had it for at least 8 weeks with no signs of any issues until now.

Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
Ammonia:0
salinity:1.024
Temp: 79

Tank mates are two ocellaris clowns, sixline wrasse, cleaner wrasse, cleaner shrimp and some snails.
I preform 20-25% water change every other week and just finished one today. What can I do?
My LFS advised that I try PraziPro? Will this harm my inverts?

 

[ShannyG]

I had a brief period of time when my salinity was MUCH higher than I thought it was, and things in my tank were acting like your tang. Are you sure about your reading?

 

[gone fishin]

It is really hard to say what is going on from the description. Do you see any wounds or sores, strange looking patches, small spots, stringy white poo. More info or a pic is needed to really offer up any type of help.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Have you added anything new to the tank since the tang?

 

[Snarl]

I had a brief period of time when my salinity was MUCH higher than I thought it was, and things in my tank were acting like your tang. Are you sure about your reading?

I will triple check it but im pretty sure my salinity is 1.024.

 

[Snarl]

Have you added anything new to the tank since the tang?

No nothing new

 

[Snarl]

It is really hard to say what is going on from the description. Do you see any wounds or sores, strange looking patches, small spots, stringy white poo. More info or a pic is needed to really offer up any type of help.

Ok, I do not see any wounds,sores, patches or ich. I haven't seen any poo in a few days and I will try and get a good pic up tonight.

 

[Snarl]

Here are a few pics.

 

[Snarl]

Sorry one more

 

[CuzzA]

My guess is he has something stuck in his mouth or more than likely he broke his jaw fighting with another fish or hitting the glass.

If he'll eat nori, I would chop it up and make it easier for him to swallow and hope that it heals.

 

[Snarl]

My guess is he has something stuck in his mouth or more than likely he broke his jaw fighting with another fish or hitting the glass.

If he'll eat nori, I would chop it up and make it easier for him to swallow and hope that it heals.

I don't think he broke it and I looked into his mouth and all seems fine. Nothing stuck in it.

 

[One fish]

nice rocks.

 

[Snarl]

nice rocks.

Ty I'll post a tank shot tomorrow. Tanks is lights out right now.

 

[CuzzA]

I don't think he broke it and I looked into his mouth and all seems fine. Nothing stuck in it.

Maybe low oxygen??? Maybe something's stuck in his digestive track??? Just throwing stuff at the wall.

 

[Betta132]

If his mouth is constantly open and not moving at all, it's a broken/dislocated jaw. Very hard to fix.

 

[Snarl]

If his mouth is constantly open and not moving at all, it's a broken/dislocated jaw. Very hard to fix.

This morning I can now notice slight pulsing of his lower mouth. So it's moving. If it is broken will it heal? Should I try PraziPro? I really don't want to lose this guy. I get very attached to my fish and will do whatever is needed. I'm just hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

 

[Snarl]

Ok I can confirm his jaw is not broken I just saw him pecking at the sand. Here is a pic of my tank. I'm hoping It gives someone some information. I'm desperate now.

 

[ShannyG]

Could he have been stung by a bristleworm or anemone? If so, I would guess the effect will be temporary.

 

[coralsnaked]

Tangs require a lot of oxegen and gasping could be a sign of low oxygen in water column. You can increase oxygen levels with surface agitation with a power head or with an air stone. Running a skimmer also provides aeration. Unfortunately an open mouth can also be a sign of a bacterial infection along with not eating Bacterial diseases are hard to diagnose but a vitiamin supplement couldn't hurt to add to your water to give the Tang a chance of fighting it off by raising the immune system.
Good luck

 

[Snarl]

Tangs require a lot of oxegen and gasping could be a sign of low oxygen in water column. You can increase oxygen levels with surface agitation with a power head or with an air stone. Running a skimmer also provides aeration. Unfortunately an open mouth can also be a sign of a bacterial infection along with not eating Bacterial diseases are hard to diagnose but a vitiamin supplement couldn't hurt to add to your water to give the Tang a chance of fighting it off by raising the immune system.
Good luck

I have a protien skimmer running and decent surface agitation. I will increase it regardless as it won't hurt. If it's bacterial infection what vitamins can I add?