Rainbow Swimming With Mouth Open

[catfish101]

hi,
one of my adult boesemani rainbows has been swimming with his mouth open for about a day now, he has never done this before but other then that he seems fine and is eating great still.
Any help or idea of what the problem could be would be very helpful
thanks,
-nate

 

[Colin_T]

if the fish is still eating then it has probably dislocated its jaw. Sometimes you can massage it back into place but it doesn't always work.

 

[catfish101]

if the fish is still eating then it has probably dislocated its jaw. Sometimes you can massage it back into place but it doesn't always work.

how would i go about doing that?

 

[fergalthefish]

if the fish is still eating then it has probably dislocated its jaw. Sometimes you can massage it back into place but it doesn't always work.

how would i go about doing that?

dim the lights.......maybe light some candles......warm your hands......a little baby oil......and massage away.....oopss sorry this is a fish you're talking about.............got bit carried away

 

[Colin_T]

you have to hold the fish with a wet rag (piece of soft material, a towel or similar) then gently run your finger along the underside of the throat a number of times (usually until the jaw seems to go back in and the mouth can close). Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.
If you can get some Clove Oil (from a health food shop) then you can put the fish in a small container of tank water and add some clove oil. Keep adding it a drop at a time until the fish rolls over. It is now unconsious and will be more relaxed and there is more chance of the jaw going back into place.
If it doesn't work then the fish will just have to live with it. Which they can normally do without too many problems.