Naso Mouth Stuck Open/Quick Breathing

[Reefing Around]

Hello, I’ve had a Blonde Naso in QT for several weeks for observation and it seemed to be doing well up until a few days ago. Its’ mouth is stuck open (however every so often twitches its mouth and closes momentarily). It also seems to be breathing faster than I recall. Feeding was fine until recently as well and no longer eats nori. It may take a few flakes but doesn’t go after pellets. Here’s a video: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AlUV50UbXZlogocHI6nb-FmfbWWLhw


Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello, I’ve had a Blonde Naso in QT for several weeks for observation and it seemed to be doing well up until a few days ago. Its’ mouth is stuck open (however every so often twitches its mouth and closes momentarily). It also seems to be breathing faster than I recall. Feeding was fine until recently as well and no longer eats nori. It may take a few flakes but doesn’t go after pellets. Here’s a video:

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Sounds like symptoms of flukes, , exhibiting what is known as yawning followed by head shaking and occasional flashing and have their mouth hanging open in which the fish is trying to process more oxygen exchange when the gills are affected. If you are not treating with anything, start with a freshwater dip as long as it is Not distressed as FW dip will stress it slightly. Other option is prazi pro.
Prazi will however reduce slightly both oxygen and appetite. Add aeration if using this. Final option is Ruby Rally Pro which is reef safe and will address Flukes, velvet and other symptoms.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

Have you done prazi yet? I had similar issues with a naso I just finished QT on. Mine definitely had flukes. They can be very hard to get eating, I ended up using the red nori with garlic in it from Ocean Nutrition.

 

[Reefing Around]

Sounds like symptoms of flukes, , exhibiting what is known as yawning followed by head shaking and occasional flashing and have their mouth hanging open in which the fish is trying to process more oxygen exchange when the gills are affected. If you are not treating with anything, start with a freshwater dip as long as it is Not distressed as FW dip will stress it slightly. Other option is prazi pro.
Prazi will however reduce slightly both oxygen and appetite. Add aeration if using this. Final option is Ruby Rally Pro which is reef safe and will address Flukes, velvet and other symptoms.

Have you done prazi yet? I had similar issues with a naso I just finished QT on. Mine definitely had flukes. They can be very hard to get eating, I ended up using the red nori with garlic in it from Ocean Nutrition.

Thank you both. I should have mentioned that I started the prazi yesterday. Should I just let it run its 7 day course or also try a fresh water dip?

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

Thank you both. I should have mentioned that I started the prazi yesterday. Should I just let it run its 7 day course or also try a fresh water dip?

I would just let the prazi run its course, do 2 treatments.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you both. I should have mentioned that I started the prazi yesterday. Should I just let it run its 7 day course or also try a fresh water dip?

FW dip will give it temporary relief by dislodging some of the flukes. Also verify there are flukes after FW dip by looking on bottom of clean container used and seeing if you see what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales. If so- those are flukes. If fish becomes overly distressed, return it to display tank

 

[Reefing Around]

I would just let the prazi run its course, do 2 treatments.

FW dip will give it temporary relief by dislodging some of the flukes. Also verify there are flukes after FW dip by looking on bottom of clean container used and seeing if you see what looks like sesame seeds or fish scales. If so- those are flukes. If fish becomes overly distressed, return it to display tank

Thanks. I think I’ll give it a few days and see how he does. If I notice he’s faring worse I’ll do the dip.

Any value in dosing the trifecta after the prazi runs?

Thanks again.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello, I’ve had a Blonde Naso in QT for several weeks for observation and it seemed to be doing well up until a few days ago. Its’ mouth is stuck open (however every so often twitches its mouth and closes momentarily). It also seems to be breathing faster than I recall. Feeding was fine until recently as well and no longer eats nori. It may take a few flakes but doesn’t go after pellets. Here’s a video: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AlUV50UbXZlogocHI6nb-FmfbWWLhw


Any ideas?

Thanks.

That's weird - almost always, when a person says their fish's mouth is stuck open, when I look at the video, what it actually is doing is breathing so fast that it doesn't have time to close its mouth. That isn't what is happening in this case, the mouth seems truly stuck open. I've had this happen a couple of time from fish hitting the side of a tank, but I can't tell you if that happened in this case.

Still, it could be flukes. Have you treated the fish with anything?

Jay

 

[Reefing Around]

That's weird - almost always, when a person says their fish's mouth is stuck open, when I look at the video, what it actually is doing is breathing so fast that it doesn't have time to close its mouth. That isn't what is happening in this case, the mouth seems truly stuck open. I've had this happen a couple of time from fish hitting the side of a tank, but I can't tell you if that happened in this case.

Still, it could be flukes. Have you treated the fish with anything?

Jay

Thanks Jay. I started treating with prazi a couple of days ago after I noticed the issue.

Seems to be moving its mouth a little more today but still stuck open for the most part.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Jay. I started treating with prazi a couple of days ago after I noticed the issue.

Seems to be moving its mouth a little more today but still stuck open for the most part.

Well, based on a slight improvement seen, I guess give it more time...I tried manipulating the mouth back on a couple of fish that I had this happen to, and it didn't really help much and was stressful...

Jay

 

[Reefing Around]

Unfortunately the Naso didn’t make it. Any idea what would cause these white blotches?


Thanks

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry!

Are the marks on both sides?
How long had the naso been dead? They are prone to developing splotchy skin a few hours after deat.
If you didn't see these lesions prior to death, I would say they are post-mortem.

Jay

 

[Reefing Around]

Thanks Jay. This was the side he was laying on. Probably died some time after 5 AM eastern time this morning.

Also lost a clown a day earlier in that same QT. Clearly something funky going on in that water. Will have to nuke it I guess.