Halichoeres Lexocanthus Wrasse Mouth Issues

[Bucrob]

Preview attachment IMG_2351.3gpPreview attachment IMG_2351.3gp
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe


IMG_2351.3gp
319 KB
I've attached a video of my Halichoeres Lexocanthus. It is not a youtube link so it may be a bit blurry, but the wrasse has been going into the sand earlier and coming out later. He was only out for around 30 minutes to an hour today. He has developed redness around the jaw, and it seems like his mouth is almost stuck open as when I fed the tank, he could not close down on the food so it just floated away from him rather than him actually consuming it. I chatted with my LFS on the matter, and she said it may just be a bristleworm sting but it seems more severe than that in my opinion. My main concern is that fact that he can't eat, what actions should I take if any at all? I will work on a youtube video of it within the next 24 hours or so if needed.

 

[Seansea]

My melanurus got the same thing but coukd still eat luckily. I think sand burying wrasses get this from slamming down into the bottom of the tank when they go to.sleep.at night. If you ever watch them do it they violently slam down head first into the sand. In the ocean this isnt a problem because the sand bed is infinite. In our tanks the sand can be 2 -4 inches which isnt much. I believe the break their jaws doing this. If he cant eat it will not be good. Give it a few days and see if he heals enough to at least grasp the food to.swallow.it. if your serving big chunks try to get them smaller so he can swallow them whole.

 

[Marine Betta]

Preview attachment IMG_2351.3gpPreview attachment IMG_2351.3gp
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe


IMG_2351.3gp
319 KB
I've attached a video of my Halichoeres Lexocanthus. It is not a youtube link so it may be a bit blurry, but the wrasse has been going into the sand earlier and coming out later. He was only out for around 30 minutes to an hour today. He has developed redness around the jaw, and it seems like his mouth is almost stuck open as when I fed the tank, he could not close down on the food so it just floated away from him rather than him actually consuming it. I chatted with my LFS on the matter, and she said it may just be a bristleworm sting but it seems more severe than that in my opinion. My main concern is that fact that he can't eat, what actions should I take if any at all? I will work on a youtube video of it within the next 24 hours or so if needed.

I could not get the video to play. Based on your description though, it sounds like a jaw injury. Are there any other symptoms (lethargy, rapid breathing, etc). If it is a jaw injury/lockjaw, there isn’t much you can do. It will either heal on its own or it won’t. Personally, I have very bad luck with wrasses with this sort of injury if they are not eating. If he starts eating, his chances of recovery will be much higher even if his mouth never closes properly.

Is this a new fish? If it’s new, I would stay away from wrasses and really any fish that has some form of lockjaw/mouth injury unless it corrects itself in the store and starts eating.

 

[Bucrob]

 

[Bucrob]

My melanurus got the same thing but coukd still eat luckily. I think sand burying wrasses get this from slamming down into the bottom of the tank when they go to.sleep.at night. If you ever watch them do it they violently slam down head first into the sand. In the ocean this isnt a problem because the sand bed is infinite. In our tanks the sand can be 2 -4 inches which isnt much. I believe the break their jaws doing this. If he cant eat it will not be good. Give it a few days and see if he heals enough to at least grasp the food to.swallow.it. if your serving big chunks try to get them smaller so he can swallow them whole.

I’m just feeding thawed out hikari mysis and brine so it’s not large. The few pieces he tried to go after were tiny and then he seemingly gave up on trying to get it

 

[Bucrob]

I could not get the video to play. Based on your description though, it sounds like a jaw injury. Are there any other symptoms (lethargy, rapid breathing, etc). If it is a jaw injury/lockjaw, there isn’t much you can do. It will either heal on its own or it won’t. Personally, I have very bad luck with wrasses with this sort of injury if they are not eating. If he starts eating, his chances of recovery will be much higher even if his mouth never closes properly.

Is this a new fish? If it’s new, I would stay away from wrasses and really any fish that has some form of lockjaw/mouth injury unless it corrects itself in the store and starts eating.

Not a new fish, have had him for about 4-5 months. It was perfectly fine when I bought it then. Haven’t had any problems until now with him.

 

[Fish Styx]

@Slocke any input here?

 

[Marine Betta]

I could not get the video to play. Based on your description though, it sounds like a jaw injury. Are there any other symptoms (lethargy, rapid breathing, etc). If it is a jaw injury/lockjaw, there isn’t much you can do. It will either heal on its own or it won’t. Personally, I have very bad luck with wrasses with this sort of injury if they are not eating. If he starts eating, his chances of recovery will be much higher even if his mouth never closes properly.

Is this a new fish? If it’s new, I would stay away from wrasses and really any fish that has some form of lockjaw/mouth injury unless it corrects itself in the store and starts eating.

Not a new fish, have had him for about 4-5 months. It was perfectly fine when I bought it then. Haven’t had any problems until now with him.

Ok, now I can see the video. His mouth isn’t as damaged as I had pictured, but it does appear to be an injury which really could have been caused by a number of things. I am concerned about the red around his mouth which typically indicates a bacterial infection (likely a secondary infection that resulted from the injury). You could try treating with kanaplex or neoplex in a hospital tank, but the other problem here is the tissue damage which will either heal on its own, or it won’t. It’s good that it’s still trying to eat. It may seem redundant, but you could try chopping up some mysis to make it even smaller.

@Jay Hemdal may have another opinion on this.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Preview attachment IMG_2351.3gpPreview attachment IMG_2351.3gp
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe


IMG_2351.3gp
319 KB
I've attached a video of my Halichoeres Lexocanthus. It is not a youtube link so it may be a bit blurry, but the wrasse has been going into the sand earlier and coming out later. He was only out for around 30 minutes to an hour today. He has developed redness around the jaw, and it seems like his mouth is almost stuck open as when I fed the tank, he could not close down on the food so it just floated away from him rather than him actually consuming it. I chatted with my LFS on the matter, and she said it may just be a bristleworm sting but it seems more severe than that in my opinion. My main concern is that fact that he can't eat, what actions should I take if any at all? I will work on a youtube video of it within the next 24 hours or so if needed.

Sorry - your links seemed to point me to a sign up screen for Gemini. A YouTube video will work better.

Did the wrasse chase and try to eat food, or does it just ignore it?

 

[Slocke]

Definitely more a question for @Jay Hemdal

@Slocke any input here?

Not really. Other then to say that this type of injury is somewhat common in this type of wrasse as they have delicate jaws. It's more common in Macropharyngodon, Leopard wrasse, but the two wrasse are close relatives. They have two sets of jaws and the internal pharyngeal jaws seem to be quite fragile.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Preview attachment IMG_2351.3gpPreview attachment IMG_2351.3gp
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...447&th=19d569a392a28d7f&view=att&zw&disp=safe


IMG_2351.3gp
319 KB
I've attached a video of my Halichoeres Lexocanthus. It is not a youtube link so it may be a bit blurry, but the wrasse has been going into the sand earlier and coming out later. He was only out for around 30 minutes to an hour today. He has developed redness around the jaw, and it seems like his mouth is almost stuck open as when I fed the tank, he could not close down on the food so it just floated away from him rather than him actually consuming it. I chatted with my LFS on the matter, and she said it may just be a bristleworm sting but it seems more severe than that in my opinion. My main concern is that fact that he can't eat, what actions should I take if any at all? I will work on a youtube video of it within the next 24 hours or so if needed.

Looks to be an impact injury but unconfirmed as fish seems to be breathing normal. May also be from darting into rocks

 

[Bucrob]

Sorry - your links seemed to point me to a sign up screen for Gemini. A YouTube video will work better.

Did the wrasse chase and try to eat food, or does it just ignore it?

I posted a YouTube link a little bit ago. He was chasing the food for a bit but after a few tries he seemingly realized he couldn’t grab onto it and stopped trying.

 

[Bucrob]

Looks to be an impact injury but unconfirmed as fish seems to be breathing normal. May also be from darting into rocks

He doesn’t really dart into rocks. He’s normally pretty chill just slowly swimming around the midwater column.

 

[vetteguy53081]

He doesn’t really dart into rocks. He’s normally pretty chill just slowly swimming around the midwater column.

I expanded video and see bruising along with a bump which may be a cyst from infection. I recommended placing fish in a separate tank and treating with Seachem Neoplex

 

[Bucrob]

Caught him and put him inside a makeshift acclimation box inside the aquarium. Here are some close ups of the mouth.

 

[Bucrob]

Here’s a picture of the other side. The bottom of his mouth seem to be positioned farther to the fishes left side than the right

 

[Seansea]

Keep trying to feed small.chunks. my melanurus lived for 3 years with this affliction. As long as he can get food down without chewing he should be good. His days of hunting tank critters is over tho.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That does look like an impact injury, I can see some bruising. The trouble with those is that, being a physical injury, there really isn't any medication that you can add to help it, it just takes time to heal, and depending on the extent of the injury, time *could* run out while it's not feeding.