Help Please! Convict Missing Lower Jaw/Lip! pics

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karate626

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2010
125
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Maryland
I'm posting this for a friend. He has 2 Convicts in a 55 gallon. They are both males and are both almost 4 inches. NO FEMALES. They were lip locking and one lost his jaw/lip! Know he can't close his mouth (looks kind of like a parrot cichlid). This happened in the last few hours. We took out the other male so he is all by himself in the 55 gallon. My friend added some salt (very small amount of aquarium salt) and added water conditioner (has slime for fish). The convict is eating and doesn't seem stressed. I have some rid-ich if that has anything that will help it heal.

Will the fish be okay?
Can he grow any of his jaw back? If so, how long will it likely take?
Is there anything else my friend should do?
What temp should the tank be set for (to help healing)?



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Thank you!
 
i dont thinjk he will grow his jaw back my oscar also lost a big chunk of his lip and it never grew back.....
 
He might not grow the tissue back but I think he'll be ok if you keep up with the salt, maybe raise the temperature to low 80s (slowly), and keep stress at a minimum. Keep up with good water changes. Do not add the ich medication, it's not needed. If you start to see any white cottony growth on the mouth, it means it's probably being invaded by secondary bacterial and fungal infection. At that point, Melafix or Pimafix might be indicated, but don't add them as long as he looks as good as he does now.

I've seen a LOT of older cichlids whose mouths are disfigured probably from years and years of lip-locking and sparring. I think he'll be ok but he might have that "battle scar" for life. Good luck to your friend...
 
Thanks for the help guys. I will let my friend know. He is so worried. I told him they are hardy and if any fish can survive loosing a lip its a convict :). I told him next time a female would make a better tank mate than another male.

Thanks again!
 
Well it will heal to some degree but not totally. But he will live with no problem.
 
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