Clown with open mouth

[Clown79]

I woke up this morning to find my female clown swimming with its mouth open. Its swimming normally and not gasping, it simply won't close its mouth.

 

 

The only difference in my tank is that the clown has been a bit aggressive with the smaller clown-goes after it when he goes near what she considers her frogspawn(although the poor little guy hosted it first)

 

Anyone know why its mouth won't close?

 

The clown has nothing new on its body and there is no whiteness or ripped skin on the mouth

[Hammerstone]

One day my female clown kept like smacking her mouth open and shut. She worried me. The next day it stopped. I think maybe she bit into a bristle worm or something?

[Clown79]

I'm hoping its the case of an injury, she seems to be getting very territorial in the last week.

[Hammerstone]

Maybe she wants to mate and locked jaws with the other clown and it hurts to close her mouth? Hopefully by tomorrow she'll be better. Good luck! I know fresh water cichlids do the whole jaw locking thing, haven't seen my clowns acttually do that though.

[Mariaface]

I've seen mine get territorial and bite a stray bristleworm. She'll act like her mouth doesn't work for a day or two, then she'll go back to normal.

 

Of course, this hasn't happened in a while - pretty sure she's learned her lesson, or the peppermint shrimp have taken care of most of the bristleworms.

[seabass]

I'm hoping its the case of an injury, she seems to be getting very territorial in the last week.

I suppose an injury is better than a disease, which could spread to other fish. However, it might be a serious injury, and you might lose your clownfish. Once, I had to euthanize a chromis with lockjaw that could no longer close it's mouth.

[Mojado]

I suppose an injury is better than a disease, which could spread to other fish. However, it might be a serious injury, and you might lose your clownfish. Once, I had to euthanize a chromis with lockjaw that could no longer close it's mouth.

Just curious . . .how do you euthanize a fish?

[seabass]

Decapitation, by cutting the spine at the back of the head. I hate doing it, but it's quick.

[Clown79]

I checked over the clown once the lights came on. Nothing appears to be wrong besides the mouth. She can slightly move it but its mostly open.

 

The aggression just started, got the second cloen in April. It happens mostly around the frogspawn.

 

I really hope its not disease, although injury is only slightly better.

 

I don't think I could stomach decapitating the fish.

[Pjanssen]

I suppose an injury is better than a disease, which could spread to other fish. However, it might be a serious injury, and you might lose your clownfish. Once, I had to euthanize a chromis with lockjaw that could no longer close it's mouth.

 

[Mariaface]

Oh, another odd clownfish behavior - they'll mouth at their host's tentacles/flesh to keep it clean, and it sometimes results in stinging. I vaguely remember the same thing happening to my clown at one point, but it shouldn't be an issue if it resolves itself in a day or two. If you notice small dark, smudge-like spots on the clown, this could also be stings from the host as it adjusts its slime coat.

 

_{Edit: Don't quote me on anything.}

[Clown79]

Funny you mention that. Its had black random spots on it forever, I don't think its black ich since its been like 7mnths since thry appeared but as its been hosting the frogspawn today, its gotten the tenticles in its mouth...i wondered if in the process of hosting it got stung. It hasn't gone into the frogspawn for hrs now.

[seabass]

I checked over the clown once the lights came on. Nothing appears to be wrong besides the mouth. She can slightly move it but its mostly open. The aggression just started, got the second cloen in April. It happens mostly around the frogspawn.

Read through these threads:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1648361

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1456981

[SunWyrm]

Just curious . . .how do you euthanize a fish?

I highly recommend clove oil to euthanize (it's also used for anesthesia) http://www.oscarfishlover.com/euthanise-your-oscar

I've put several fish to sleep this way; it's very peaceful and works very fast. Although, I used to love the smell, and now it just makes me incredibly sad.

 

 

I'm betting it's just an injury and see how she is in a few days. My female clown gets spunky and hurts herself too. Once, her and her mate both had a crazy amount of bristles all over their face and neither could close their mouth for two days.

[Clown79]

Thank you so much for the help. Its much appreciated. Never seen this before not even after my cichlids got into some nasty fights.

 

I guess its a waiting game now.

 

I can see into its mouth-i see no obstruction

[ReefWeeds]

Funny you mention that. Its had black random spots on it forever, I don't think its black ich since its been like 7mnths since thry appeared but as its been hosting the frogspawn today, its gotten the tenticles in its mouth...i wondered if in the process of hosting it got stung. It hasn't gone into the frogspawn for hrs now.

 

When my clowns first started being hosted by a toadstool, they had black spots all over them. I found out it was stings by the coral until they built up their slime coat. I wouldn't worry about the black spots.

 

The open mouth, I unfortunately have got no helpful advice for that.

[Tamberav]

Can she eat?

[Hammerstone]

I thought that sticking them in the freezer was a humane way as I was told they just went to sleep?

[Tamberav]

I thought that sticking them in the freezer was a humane way as I was told they just went to sleep?

 

Freezing to death is not comfortable and temperature of water drops too quick.

[seabass]

I thought that sticking them in the freezer was a humane way as I was told they just went to sleep?

I've done this for a dying urchin before, but it's not recommended for fish.

[North Borders]

My clown did this for a few days after getting stung on the mouth by the hammer coral it likes to host. I moved it to QT for a week and it's been fine since. Does your clown host on something that could have stung it? When I was reading up on it, people were saying it's kind of common for clowns to get stung when they buffet their coral. Mine likes to "snuggle" it by rubbing his face in it.

[Clown79]

Yup, she's been lovin the frogspawn since my little clown hosted it. I think thats the culprit.

 

Her mouth was better last night and this morning, not closed completely but not wide open.

 

She went after the food like the piggy she is and did eat so I'm pleased to see that.

 

I will keep everyone posted.

 

Thank you so much for all the help

[Hammerstone]

Glad to hear some good news!!?

[seabass]

Glad to hear some good news!!

Yep, sounds like she just got stung, and will be alright. I'm glad she can eat.

[Clown79]

Thanks everyone.