My clownfish won't close it's mouth HELP

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by almita1978, May 20, 2008.

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  1. almita1978

    almita1978 Plankton

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    I noticed for two days now that my clownfish won't close his mouth. This a fairly new tank and we've had it for about a month. We just recently added a new clownfish and two anenomes. One anenome is a green bubble and the other is white with purple tips. The bubble anenome was introduced first to the tank and later we put the other clown and white anenome in. The clownfish that has the problem recently noticed the white anenome and has been sucking on it's tentacles and all the sudden he won't close his mouth. What is wrong with him can somebody help? I was told to watch him and if he developed a white fuzz in his mouth then he has mouth fungus. I'm not sure but it does look a little fuzzy inside his bottom lip.

    Help please!
     
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  3. Bogie

    Bogie Snowflake Eel

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    I know anemones don't sting clownfish on their skin, but not sure about inside the mouth... I don't know if they have the same "slime coating" or whatever it is that protects them from the sting inside their mouth. (no one is exactly sure what it keeps them from getting stung, slime coat proteins, etc..).
    The open mouth may not be related at all. Does it look like the fish is having trouble breathing? If so it could be fluke or other parasites in his gills that you can't see.
     
  4. almita1978

    almita1978 Plankton

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    What is fluke and how can I help him?
     
  5. almita1978

    almita1978 Plankton

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    Oh and it doesn't look like he is having problems breathing. He is swimming around and eating but not much. His behavior seems to be fine accept for the open mouth.
     
  6. wastemanagement

    wastemanagement Eyelash Blennie

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    Firstly I think that you have gotten a bit ahead of yourself with adding an anemony to your tank at such an early stage 1month is just too soon you will need to keep a close eye on them that they dont start to die off .(I would take them back if you can)
    I dont think that the clown sucking the anemony is the prob here ive seen this in the past with out any curious outcomes.
    Is the fish gasping at all or is the mouth just resting open?
     
  7. wastemanagement

    wastemanagement Eyelash Blennie

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    do you have just the one clown, or any other fish?
     
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  9. Bogie

    Bogie Snowflake Eel

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    I'd just keep an eye on that clown for a while and see if he gets worse. Hopefully better.
    My clowns both swim with the mouth closed.
    There used to be a kid in my neighborhood that walked around with his mouth gaped open all the time. He was known as the "perpetual flycatcher".
     
  10. almita1978

    almita1978 Plankton

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    No it doesn't look like he's gasping or having trouble breathing but his mouth is defintely wide open.
     
  11. almita1978

    almita1978 Plankton

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    We have another clown
     
  12. wastemanagement

    wastemanagement Eyelash Blennie

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    have they been fighting at all , that youve noticed