I recently aquired an 8" albino red oscar, he seems to be acting like he has a dislocated jaw, he goes to grab a pellet and his jaw locks out and he has to shake his head very violently to unlock it, but he still manages to eat and leades a normal life, do you think he has a dislocate jaw? i got him from some people who had a very over stocked tank, they had a 6x2.5x2.5 with get this a 29" pacu, 6 other oscars, 2 18" RTCxTSN, a 19" marbled pim, a bunch of plecs and a few other fish, he did have a mate but the pacu ate him/her, so thats why i got him/her as they did not want it to get eaten, so what do you think, serious or not?
oscar with a dislocated jaw?
- Thread starter rust9000
- Start date
Keep an eye on it Jaw locking is not good as the jaw is essential for so many aspects of your cichlid's life. A dislocated jaw could be a prelude to death! However, jaw-locking is also the ultimate way for two closely-matched fish to determine who wins and who loses. It is so important that in cichlids many species have incorporated jaw-locking as part of courtship: potential mates lock jaws and test each other's fighting ability. A partner that cannot fight is a partner that will not be able to protect the fry adequately. Just keep an eye on it I had a jovial Oscar with the same problem. It was cause through him being in a tank with a jack Dempsey. The pair would just spend all the time locked. I had to separate them in the end but untimely this dislocate his jaw. he is still about to this day but has a wonky mouth. If your fish is feeding then I would not let it worry you when he can’t eat is the time to be concerned.
yeah he used to have a mate but as i said thier oacu ate it lol, so i dont know what happened to him, my jag wants to fight but she backs off, i dont know if she knows hes got a funcky jaw, but it is perfectly aline he is just a normal oscar, but when it locks he looks like when cichlids "yawn" but it is stuck. i dunno whats wrong.
The jaw became hyperextended during all of the tugging contests and the ligaments muscles have stretched beyond their normal distances. The only 'cure' is to maintain the oscar in an unaggressive environment until the ligaments have a chance to recover. The jaw may have dislocated at some point but, the mandible socket isn't a true ball and socket set up. It's designed to allow for some slippage and self-reduction upon minor dislocations due to hyperextention (eg: yawning).
i have seen a oscer with no lower lip/jaw and still was able to eat pellets and live. he was also byhimsef in a sick tank at the pet store getting special treatment but alive he is
Hopefully you will get a recovery. I had an 7 inch JD that I originally thought dislocated his jaw in a lip lock with my by Jag. When the swelling went down it became apperent that the jaw was broken. The JD lost all ability to close his mouth, condition went downhill and I eventually had to put him down-----it hurt, I had had him since he was 3/4"
Good Luck with yours
Good Luck with yours
You see it is only locks when it yawns or opens it mouth to far, Oddballs diegnosis sounds about right thanks Oddball!!