Damaged jaw

[Gingercat]

While netting an apisto (triple red) into the hospital tank to treat for columnaris, his lower jaw ripped on one side. Poor fish went quite white (apart from the fins). I think the columnaris on his jaw got snagged in the netting somehow. It's been three or four weeks now that he's not been able to close his mouth -- it's quite wide open -- but he is still able to eat food out of the water column somehow. The columnaris has cleared up and it took him a couple of weeks to bounce back from the meds, but behaviour-wise he's been his old self for the past couple of days. I know damaged fins can grow back but do injuries like this ever completely heal?

 

[aspen]

i have seen fish heal pretty well, other times you see a fish with a seemingly minor injury not heal. only time will tell.


rick

 

[fishgeek]

depends on the depth of the injury, if it is just scale deep, then will be no problem
if the jaw is actually malaligned and/or fractured then may never close

lots of good water will aid healing

 

[Gingercat]

Thanks for the replies. I suspect he's too badly damaged to fully heal, but I'll keep up with the water changes and continue to hope for improvement.