Oscar with Jaw Issues

[JPEZZA]

I have a Lemon Oscar who for the last 3 weeks has had its mouth open.



Looking at the jaw on both sides its seems to be fine. The Oscar eats by getting pellets in its mouth and sucking it to the back of its throat where it grinds them and swallows. Sometimes it does manage to touch bottom lip with top


but damn mouth does not want to stay shut.

I have to make sure the other fish are eating before I target this fish or it misses out. I read elsewhere that i should try and massage the jaw back into place but i really do not know what im doing.

Its been like this for 3 weeks and if the fish was going to die im sure it would have by now. Sounds daft but having sleepless nights worrying about this jaw. Id post a video but it wont let me so please see the pictures

Any advice would be much appreciated and some more pictures below -

 

[Randles]

Its probably dislocated. Because its been 3 weeks, if it was me I'd have him out the water and very gently move his jaw to see if it may "click" back. Just be very careful that you don't do damage, any more than very light resistance is a no go, don't force it at all. Poor thing hope you get it sorted.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

I agree with everything above. It doesn’t look like anything is stuck.

 

[Rocksor]

When trying to carefully and gently reset the jaw, pull the top jaw out first, and then gently push back. Repeat a few times.

Also, to stop this from happening, feed smaller pellets that do not require grinding. That pellet is too large. The oscar should be able to swallow the pellet whole easily. The fish will also produce less waste food in the water.

 

[duanes]

When trying to carefully and gently reset the jaw, pull the top jaw out first, and then gently push back. Repeat a few times.

Also, to stop this from happening, feed smaller pellets that do not require grinding. That pellet is too large. The oscar should be able to swallow the pellet whole easily. The fish will also produce less waste food in the water.

Agree with gently resetting the jaw.
I have done this with Petenia splendida, where it is a common occurrence.

And most people have the wrong impression that because of their large mouths, cichlids need large pellets, and they don't.
All cichlids (including your oscar) have two sets of jaws, and teeth, the obvious ones used for grasping , and another set in the throat (Pharyngeals similar to "Alien") used to grind up small, hard food (like small pellets).

 

[JPEZZA]

When trying to carefully and gently reset the jaw, pull the top jaw out first, and then gently push back. Repeat a few times.

Also, to stop this from happening, feed smaller pellets that do not require grinding. That pellet is too large. The oscar should be able to swallow the pellet whole easily. The fish will also produce less waste food in the water.

So after 10 mins of chasing it around the tank i finally got it out. I think the top lip looks better it might be in my head. Ill leave it be for today and try again in a couple of days. horrible experience and still shaking from it. Do you think if i had put the jaw back correctly that it would look normal straight away?

 

[Rocksor]

So after 10 mins of chasing it around the tank i finally got it out. I think the top lip looks better it might be in my head. Ill leave it be for today and try again in a couple of days. horrible experience and still shaking from it. Do you think if i had put the jaw back correctly that it would look normal straight away?

View attachment 1486776

It should if a dislocated jaw is the problem. It doesn't look better to me though

Drain the water so that it is lower, and you will have an easier time catching it. The lower the better, also remove decor

 

[Randles]

Yeah I agree that doesnt really look any better. Did the jaw move freely? When moving it to closed, was it just snapping back open without the Oscar doing it? Did it seem this way? If so, I fear this is permanent. I know this can sometimes be fixed this way but only if the jaw has dislocated, if its not working then the damage has already been done. Best of luck with it.

 

[JPEZZA]

Yeah I agree that doesnt really look any better. Did the jaw move freely? When moving it to closed, was it just snapping back open without the Oscar doing it? Did it seem this way? If so, I fear this is permanent. I know this can sometimes be fixed this way but only if the jaw has dislocated, if its not working then the damage has already been done. Best of luck with it.

It moved freely, looked how it should when I closed it but yes it just opened again. It seems fine though in general. It’s had meal worms as a treat the last few days. Hopefully if it is permanent that it won’t have a detrimental affect on its life.

thanks for the input. Much appreciated

 

[Randles]

Fingers crossed for you both it will right itself on its own.