Chocolate Cichlid Mouth injury.....Opinions please??!!

[Chefken]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

My Chocolate are having breeding/fighting issues all of a sudden after 2 years. While I was away in Feb. my breeding female was found dying by my daughter. It had a head injury and was often chased by the larger male. I returned and the Male decided to breed with the smaller once neglected female. i got all three 2 years ago from Rapps. The male is now nearly 10" and the female aprox 7.5 but slimmer. They spawned and even hatched a few dozen about two weeks ago.

yesterday I found the female with 1/4 of its mouth torn off. Must have been some serious lip locking which I rarely see. Nothing else in my tank could possibly have done this.....no one big enough. Will it heal? I have just done a water change......I really have no where to quarantine at this point. Will she just be scarred if she makes it?

 

[biguebs]

Hard to tell exactly what’s going on there - but if that’s an injury from battling another fish then it’s not likely to change and she probably won’t be able to heal up. If no extra tank then maybe add hides or put in a divider. Fish are great healers, will be fine if she doesn’t get beat on. Something else that helps with aggression sometimes - drop the water temp a few degrees and slow everyone down a bit.

Im not sure at all but it kind of looks like a bacterial thing / mouth fungus. But hard to tell with the picture (it’s almost like fish never want to stay still lol). If that’s the case you’ll need to treat accordingly.

 

[Chefken]

Hard to tell exactly what’s going on there - but if that’s an injury from battling another fish then it’s not likely to change and she probably won’t be able to heal up. If no extra tank then maybe add hides or put in a divider. Fish are great healers, will be fine if she doesn’t get beat on. Something else that helps with aggression sometimes - drop the water temp a few degrees and slow everyone down a bit.

Im not sure at all but it kind of looks like a bacterial thing / mouth fungus. But hard to tell with the picture (it’s almost like fish never want to stay still lol). If that’s the case you’ll need to treat accordingly.

Thanks...no fungus.....the top "lip" is torn off and hanging by a thread. No sign of infection yet. Will see if she eats tonight.

 

[kno4te]

Should heal up. Would separate and keep the water clean. Would add some salt 1 tsp per g. Can dab the mouth area with some methylene blue on a qtip.