help! leaf fish problem

[Rowangel]

I see my leaf fish adjusting her jaw frequently after eating larger items, especially when she turns piggy and tries to swallow all the frozen blood worms in one breath. I could see where something too big could potentially cause damage to an extended delicate jaw. However, they are capable of eating a fish more than half their body length with no problem, and your feeder fish sounded like they were fine size-wise, not likely the cause of the damage.
What other fish are being kept with it? There is a good possibility the fish sustained injury to the mouth during a dominance or self-defense display, either before or after you bought it. Did it eat before you noticed the jaw problems or was this the first time you tried to feed it? Have you tried feeding it smaller prey items like monkey_toes suggested? It is lethargic and unresponsive or does it appear interested in food but just can’t eat?

Some other things to consider is an ulcer or abscess in the roof of the mouth caused by a bacterial infection. Finding an ulcer in the mouth, on the mouth or in the roof of the mouth would support this. Also a foreign body in the gills or back of throat could be present, such as rocks or a stuck too large prey item.

If you are looking at euthanasia as the alternative because it can’t eat, I would consider doing a quick physical on it, gently (GENTLY) probing the jaw (inside and out) to get a better understanding of what the problem might be.

 

[greenbird52]

I am unfamiliar with how the jaw works but it looks as if the bottom is all the way retracted but the top is still part way out sheilding its mouth from food. It happened the first time I feed it live food, it's jaw extended farther than I thought possible and after several attempts to retract his jaw he was unable. He contuniued chasing the feeder fish but was unable to catch them. It,s hard to keep a good eye on him since he dosn't do much when lights are on. He is being kept with a reed fish, butterfly fish and several kinds of cats, nothing that ever bothered him, if anything I was worried he would attack them. I am thinking of maybe manually feedeing it, and checking the jaw, it looks like it folded back in it's mouth wrong, if thats even possible. Maybe I can extend it's jaw manually and possilbly let have another chance at retracting it's jaw?

 

[monkey_toes]

If he can't close his mouth, anything is worth a try. He's already broken, so it's not like you could damage him any worse. I wish I could see it for myself, though. Fish with extensible mouths can push them way out. Check out these photos of a snook cichlid with mouth closed and extended.

http://www.aquatab.net/gallery/000405.jpg
http://people.zeelandnet.nl/witgoes/fotos/Petenia-splendida1.jpg

 

[Rowangel]

Maybe I can extend it's jaw manually and possilbly let have another chance at retracting it's jaw?

Couldn't hurt to try. I've heard of other fish requiring manual adjustments to the jaw before. I'd also try the manual feeding idea, with blood worms or frozen BB. Something small he might be able to get down without using his mouth. Sounds like he injured it during his feeding frenzy. Have you checked inside his mouth to make sure there isn't anything blocking the closing of the jaw? If he's not eating the best bet may be to see if you can manually manipulate the jaw back into place. The alternative, If nothing works, would be to consider the euthanasia before he starves. Good luck, these things are always so hard...

 

[greenbird52]

I have been hand feeding him, he eats feeder fish but spits out the freeze dried brine shrimp. I believe he has been catching the smaller feeder guppies but I am not sure, since most of his buisness is done at night. Ten of them disapeared overnight and the only other fish in the tank able to catch them is a butterfly fish, and ten seems like quite a few for him. Examining his mouth it appears he is unable to retract the top of his mouth. There is a structure running down the center of his upper mouth connecting to his lips, this appears to be the problem, is this suposed to slide back into his mouth and should I try to push it back in, or am I risking further injury.

 

[Rowangel]

should I try to push it back in, or am I risking further injury.

Hum, I think it depends your willingness to continue hand-feeding if he is unable to fend for himself. It sounds like he can eat-if he is spitting out food I would think he can swallow food. Try frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms instead of freeze dried foods. He will like them better and they are more nutritious. If he can successfully eat foods and you can live with the extra care he may require, I’d say let it go and see what happens. However, if you don’t want a dependent fish or he still seems to have trouble eating, which would obviously affect his ability to survive, then you might consider trying to fix the jaw manually. Have you thought about giving him his own tank temporarily? It might make it easier to monitor how much he eats.