Melanarus wrasse with Lock Jaw ??

[cracker]

I just noticed My poor Melanarus with the jaws stuck open. He would approach the food & turn away. This is the same way my last went after many years . Just one day & BAM . There's not much I can do at this point . I understand this isn't uncommon. Any insight? Thanks .
Paul b & I were talking about wrasses with lock jaw years ago on another forum.

 

[HotRocks]

Never had this happen personally.

@Humblefish @Maritimer @4FordFamily @Big G Any insight?

 

[DylanE]

I actually had this happen with a chromis just recently. It corrected itself after a couple of days.

 

[Big G]

Here's an interesting post on lockjaw: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate-for-lockjaw.352838/

 

[4FordFamily]

I’ve had it correct in a few days the one time I’ve seen it. Some epsom salt 1 tablespoon per 5 gals may help the swelling some.

 

[Humblefish]

Being it's a Halichoeres wrasse, are you sure it didn't try to eat a bristleworm or something??

 

[cracker]

Hello Humble Fish, It might have. No tellin if it ate a bristle. Certainly could have. Iv'e seen a few in this fairly new tank About 2 years old now.
Thanks 4Ford I actually have epsom salt on hand , will dose in the morn. Is this a one time thing or could I add more safely the next day ? This is a 180/200 gl total . Only 5 fish some snails & a kenya tree. Anyway I'll do some research tomorrow morn , Now I must lay me down & go to sleep !
It's really a cool fish & I don't like this at all!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Being it's a Halichoeres wrasse, are you sure it didn't try to eat a bristleworm or something??

This is exactly my thought. If it was from a bristleworm it will solve itself on its own in a few days.

 

[Big G]

You can do two doses of Epsom Salts.

 

[cracker]

I have a w/t scheduled today should I forgo this & treat intermediately ? I think I should .
poor guy showed no interest in eating this morn .

 

[Big G]

With Epsom Salts, you dose one day and then you can again the next day. Most meds/chemicals work slowly on fish.

 

[cracker]

Ok if I did the math right that's " 2.5 cups " of epsum salt for a 200 total volume . That sounds like an awful lot !
I have to treat the whole tank no way I'll get this fish out .
40 x5 gls = 200 gls
1tbls per5 gl epsum salts.
40 tbls epsum salt for 200 gls
4o tbls comes to 2.5 cups of epsum salts !

Folks I'm new to dosing a this in every way & afraid this is so much I'll kill everybody in the tank!
I need some reassurance here .

 

[Big G]

Good on you. Always question advice when it comes to the health of your fish and your own stress. Here's the treatment suggested by Humblefish for Epsom Salts:

Epsom Salt: Treats eye and other injuries. Popeye in one eye usually means injury, but popeye in both eyes usually denotes a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. Cloudy eye can be a bacterial infection or flukes.

How To Treat - 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of aquarium water. Repeat only once, if necessary. Use only “USP” grade Epsom salt.

Pros - Reef safe, as Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate.

Cons/Side Effects - The effects of excessive sulfate in a reef aquarium are not fully known.

 

[cracker]

Thanks so much !
So the dosage was correct?

 

[Big G]

Yep. Never dosed a big reef tank like that myself. It would give me pause too. Please note the last sentence in Humblefish's treatment advisory. The magnesium level may elevate a bit; but Humblefish's caution about the sulfate level is worth note. I would try to get the fish out and in a QT to give it some rest and singular attention. I know it's a lot of work.

 

[cracker]

Good Evening . Talk about indecision , So what I could find online & the info I got here ,now think I really shouldn't do this . I'm forced to dose the entire tank & what the repercussions are, just on an outside chance it will help this one fish ? I just can't do this. I'll see if I get any more opinions . I'm ditching this plan & letting nature take it's course. Right now, I wish this beautiful animal was back swimming free in the Big Sea of Life.

 

[ca1ore]

I never dose any 'meds' into my display, regardless of it's presumed reef safeness; I definitely would not do it for a single fish.

 

[cracker]

Thanks everyone for the heads up before I did something stupid !

 

[eatbreakfast]

Magnesium sulfate is already included in many salt mixes. It would just bump up the mg levels. However, I still believe it is much more likely from a bristleworm rather than lockjaw.

 

[Outdrsyguy1]

happened to my mystery wrasse also. he was fine after a week or so. He still seemed to eat a little bit during that time. almost looked dislocated from what i saw but it's back to normal