Bala Shark's mouth is stuck open

[Egon]

I've read about this happening to this species but I've kept Bala's for years and never seen it personally. Just took these pics. The mouth doesn't close. You know how the Bala's sort of "pop" their mouths when eating. It's kinda like the mouth parts went inside out or something, maybe over extended?

Any one seen this before. Do I have to catch this guy and push his mouth back?

 

[Kaosu]

it looks like something is stuck in his mouth.

 

[Egon]

I worked all day, I will be home in an hour and check him out. It will be 24 hours from when I took the pics. Hopefully what ever is going on is all better.

 

[Egon]

It's been 24 hours and the mouth is still messed up..........

I think I'm going to have to catch him and push it back

 

[Egon]

Okay, I pulled him out of the tank and looked in the mouth, nothing? The mouth is just stuck open? Here's some pics of the mouth, Bala is out of the tank. I tried to push it's mouth back. The upper jaw/lips are soft and moveable. The lower jaw/lips and firm. I think the "stuck" area is the lower jaw. It seems to be hyperextended. Any thoughts?

 

[mshill90]

Normally if you squeeze on the sides of the mouth, it should pop back into place. I have 2 koi that do this often. I've gotten to the point where it's not worth trying to catch them. It eventually fixes itself.