So last night I was doing a water change and of course my Copperband Butterfly was traumatized. It is so shy anytime I stick my hands in the tank it gets scared. So I finished my water change and put everything back together and looked at him and it looks like he ran into something and broke his mouth! His little beak is broken, like it splintered off from running into something. I don't think he will be able to eat. What should I do? I loved this fish and he was so healthy till now! I'm thinking I may have to euthanize him instead of letting him slowly die of starvation.

Can you supply a picture? If the damage isn't too severe, it may no longer be able to eat by picking at the rocks, but it might still be able to eat prepared foods.

I don't have a picture, but it looks like his beak is broken in such as way that nothing could get in his mouth. The lower part of this beak thing didn't break totally off, it is like it splintered and part of it splintered upwards so he can't really open or close his mouth much.

Hmmm.. what size tank is this? Typically these need a pretty big tank so this kind of stuff doesn't happen. Of course sometimes you just get a skiddish/stupid animal. I'm not trying to insinuate that your tank is too small for this fish. I think it also tends to happen to smaller fish.

A type of injury like this should really be dealt with by a vet though. I don't think you're going to find much on here as far as reliable medical advice for fixing your fish goes.

That being said, Good luck.

Hey how is your fish doing ?

By chance could you post any pictures/info on treatments you've tried for us?