Deformed Jaw?

[RandomWiktor]

Back in September, I purchased a small feeder goldfish. I have been feeding a mix of flake and pelleted food (bioblend and progold). I'd noticed as he grew, he seemed to be having trouble eating the pellets. I looked at him compared to my other two goldfish and realize his whole bottom jaw appears underdeveloped. He doesn't hold his mouth normally for a goldfish, either.
Anyways, he had lost a ton of weight being unable to eat pellets and now eats flakes. But he can only seem to get in small amounts at a time so I have feed little bits all day long. The weight is back on but he is not growing well (he is half the size of the others, and was the oldest of them). I've separated him out into a 10 gallon (I know it is too small ultimately, but he is currently only about 2 inches long, maybe smaller, and I am very carefully monitering the ammonia and nitrite) to give him a better opprotunity to eat and grow, and so that he won't be bullied by the larger fish.
What I am wondering, however, if it is possible for him to continue to grow without massive weight loss since he can only eat such small amounts of food at a time. Has anyone had this problem before? Is there any type of easy to eat, nutrient-dense food I should be feeding instead of flakes?

 

[black angel]

i personally havent kept a goldfish with a deformed jaw but i think you are doing the right thing by taking him out and putting him in a tank on his own.
my own oranda grew very fast once i introduced a heater to his tank and it is currently at 79f. this helps to speed up the metabolism and gets him feeding better and also helps the immune system as well.

as for food you could try bloodworm. i get mine frozen and feed once a day, but only give a little at a time as its very rich food. brine shrimp too goes down well.

you could try lightly boiled lettuce and drop it in the tank for a few hours, though he may have trouble biting bits off.

ive also given mine a grain or 3 of cooked rice to chew on, they like that.
small piece of orange goes down well and mine likes to chew on that as well.

good luck with the little guy, hes certainly found a good home with you.

 

[WILDER]

Also try some algae tablets they love them once it goes soft he should be able to eat them, if he carrys on losing weight through not being able to eat, I think I would end his suffering, good luck.

 

[bon_jovi_forever]

Not sure if its any help but goldfish are carp basically and i know of somat called parrot mouth in everyday (common ,mirror) carp maybe that may be it pretty much a newbee meself but hope its a help might be worth a look anyway hope the little fella is ok