Silver Arowana Broken Jaw !!!

What to do?

  • Perform surgery to repair jaw

    Votes: 2 28.6%
  • Leave it alone and hope for the best

    Votes: 5 71.4%

  • Total voters
    7

KevinJ

Feeder Fish
Nov 6, 2018
3
1
3
30
57BF9397-7F1B-4A48-8402-17A3EF2C6494.jpeg 57BF9397-7F1B-4A48-8402-17A3EF2C6494.jpeg 57BF9397-7F1B-4A48-8402-17A3EF2C6494.jpeg F6EAC4A3-E3DF-4751-8089-17AA28F9E4E4.jpeg 70683DBA-2401-4262-853F-3215A4A34DC6.jpeg 90CF2251-924E-45F1-8930-75BACBE690B4.jpeg 8FF99147-619B-4C7C-B464-0A83D82AD7A3.jpeg I have a 16 inch silver arowana. About a month ago I found it with the jaw bent, not sure what happened or how it happened. It must’ve gotten startled and tried jumping up and hit the lid or ran into the glass.
I need advice on what to do?
It is still eating fine with no issues. However my concern is that when it closes its jaw it pushes the eye slightly up every time it breaths and I’m afraid long term it can cause damage or an infection. I have seen surgeries performed on broken jaws where a brace the shape of the jaw it’s used to bring it back to the same shape and it’s stiched to the mouth for a few weeks. anesthetics is used to put the fish to sleep of course. I will attach some pictures but I’m guessing it will require to break the jaw back in shape to attach the brace. Before I attempt to do this my self are there any locations in Long Island New York where they will perform something like this or anyone with experience who is willing to attemp the surgery if necessary?
 
Sep 24, 2017
917
306
77
20
Pennsylvania
I had this issue with my killifish and I just let it be and he is fine, his mouth is a bit crooked but he is still eating fine. I don't know about this one though because of the eye issue . As long as he is eating it's not an emergency, if I were you I'd just leave it be for now unless you notice any further issues.
 

KevinJ

Feeder Fish
Nov 6, 2018
3
1
3
30
Are you sure that it's actually broken, and not just dislocated?
Yeah I'm pretty sure. Looking at the jaw of an arowana, the mouth looks shaped like a "V" shape. He is able to open and close it normally. If it was dislocated it should be partially or fully open without the ability to close.
 
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KevinJ

Feeder Fish
Nov 6, 2018
3
1
3
30
I had this issue with my killifish and I just let it be and he is fine, his mouth is a bit crooked but he is still eating fine. I don't know about this one though because of the eye issue . As long as he is eating it's not an emergency, if I were you I'd just leave it be for now unless you notice any further issues.
Yeah I agree, it was my plan all along since it is eating fine. Until I noticed how the bent corner its scrapping agains the eye and its moving the eye when the mouth is closed.
 

imabot

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jun 8, 2017
295
243
51
Health issues belong in the Freshwater Diseases and Health Issues sub forum. Chicxulub Chicxulub
 

Puffer Fish Boi

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 7, 2018
27
15
3
22
What do you mean when you say his eye is moving everytime he is breathing and eating? I don't know if that could really cause much of an infection or anything, but assuming he is eating I don't see why it isn't ok.
 

Fishofmind

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 24, 2019
21
10
8
Got the same issue with my silver aro. Got him/her when he/she still has a yolk sack, about 2-3inches and now he's 7inches. He" hit his" mouth and head when he tried to jump out of the tank. He's in 100gallon tank with silver dollars and bichir.

IMG_20200330_213122.jpg
 

FJB

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Dec 15, 2017
1,865
3,161
439
Philadelphia, PA
Sorry to hear. I remember your post with the first fish, but it is unbelievable to have that happen twice.
Did the other fish get better ? what's the status of that?
Good luck!
 
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