what's wrong with my convict

[kwantz]

ok for the past few days my convict has not been able to close his mouth it looks like its constantly open and will not shut. Any one have a diaognosis?

 

[AMG]

No idea. Does he have any other abnormal signs? Is he acting normal?

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Has it been fighting other fish? It is not uncommon for a cichlid to break its jaw from too much fighting.

 

[PoopSmart]

I think its either fighting or spine deformity(? don't really know if theres a technical term, but its most common in older jack dempseys where they grow old and they look sort of crooked and their bottom lip just hangs open). It seems some cichlids get old and then they just can't close their mouth anymore. I have seen similar problems with Jack dempseys, Oscars, Jaguars, and a couple others. But mostly with the first 3.

 

[king pacu]

that sounds like that is from a fight. i had this happen to my yonger convict in a tank with a too aggressive jackdempsey. luckly it recovered and its mouth was back to normal. only thing i can tell you to do is if he is in a tank with another fish take the convict out and put him in a separate tank byhimself and let him recover.