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View Full Version : Does my fish have a disease?

zackish
07-20-2007, 08:31 PM
I currently have 8 cardinal tetras in my tank that have been doing well for over a week. However, today I noticed one of them is swimming with its mouth open. It's like stuck open. It's still good in color and it's eating and schooling with the other fish.
Is this a common problem or something I should just leave alone?
RobbieG
07-20-2007, 11:49 PM
I can't find any diseases that match that - does he move his mouth when he eats?
Spyder
07-21-2007, 01:31 AM
It could be Enteric Red Mouth, a little known disease caused by a pathogen called Yersenia ruckerii. There is lettle known about this but they say lowering the temp may help.
Here is a link, scroll down to find the exact disease:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
cocoa_pleco
07-21-2007, 01:37 AM
its fine. my tetras get it alot. it naturally will go away. all mine recovered 100%. sometimes they open their jaw too much and it gets locked, other times its nerves
zackish
07-21-2007, 02:11 AM
well it doesn't sound to serious and I am just going to let it go. My aquarium temp now is 79 degrees. Thanks guys for the help.
And no its mouth does not move when it eats, the food just gets sucked in his mouth.
RobbieG
07-21-2007, 02:13 AM
It may be a physical injury - keep an eye out for anything funny - white spots - red streaks - etc and good luck!
cocoa_pleco
07-21-2007, 03:18 AM
when my glowlights had it, they managed to eat still. they would pop into the air like dolphins for food
zackish
07-21-2007, 08:07 PM
It almost looks like there is something lodged in its mouth.
cocoa_pleco
07-21-2007, 08:11 PM
like you definitely can see a stone or something?
zackish
07-21-2007, 08:20 PM
like you definitely can see a stone or something?

It's hard to see cuz whenever I try to go close they all swim away but if I just sit there and he is facing me it looks like a huge piece of food or something white.
cocoa_pleco
07-21-2007, 08:30 PM
sounds like somethings lodged in his mouth then
zackish
07-21-2007, 09:17 PM
Ya it almost definitely looks like something is in there. I just want to take him out and take a needle and dig it out.
Any reccomendations? It has to be something harder than algae or food because it's been like this for several days and if it was softer I am sure he would have coughed it out or it would have dissolved or whatever.
zackish
07-23-2007, 04:34 AM
Well its mouth is magically shut now so I guess all is well.