Concerned About Chops

[star4]

Chops is growing rapidly and the deformity in his face I think is giving him breathing problems. When I look directly into his mouth the left side (as I look its my right) you can see the cheek bone curved inwards rather than out. My theory is that because of this the flow of water is not going over his gills on the left as nature designed it. He has lots of air going into the tank as I have a small spray bar positioned above the water line. In every other way he acts perfectly normal, no signs of any illness just this hard breathing, but saying that the deformity may just make him look like he is breathing hard. The other problem is as he has grown he can no longer fully close his mouth, its like his mouth has got wider but the jaw bones have not grown longer with it I am starting to wonder if this is going to affect him eating. (it doesnt at the moment)

Does my theory of the curved jaw causing incorrect flow over one side of his gills sound pheasable?

 

[snowflake311]

Kind of like a dog with a short muzzle.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I really hope our forum mascot is going to be ok! It almost sounds as though it would be beneficial for Chops' well-being to actively try and stunt his growth, so that his jaw abnormality does not get pronounced further.

Do you keep his tank at what is considered to be the lowest temperature for Oscars, maximising the oxygen saturation potential?

 

[Carlovel1]

Get better soon Chops!

 

[star4]

Kind of like a dog with a short muzzle.

Exactly, its like he "pants"

 

[Littlemonkey]

Just carry on what you are doing star4. Sounds like you are doing a grand job as usual. I think you could be right and that the deformity is making him look like he is heavy breathing. Just hope he can keep on eating OK. Poor Chop's but at least he is in the best place.

 

[star4]

I really hope our forum mascot is going to be ok! It almost sounds as though it would be beneficial for Chops' well-being to actively try and stunt his growth, so that his jaw abnormality does not get pronounced further.

Do you keep his tank at what is considered to be the lowest temperature for Oscars, maximising the oxygen saturation potential?

The thought of putting him in a smaller tank has crossed my mind, see if his jaw will catch up, so to speak. If it was possible to find a shop to take the rotkeil babies, I could then move some other fish and free up my 180l tank or panoramic 200, where Chops could live on his own. Trouble is stunting him would probably cause other health problems, unless I tried it for a couple of months or so then added him back to the bigger tank if his jaw does grow.

Tank temperature is at 25 because of the other fish, hence 2 external filters both with spray bars and one with a small bar producing lots of air. If I did move him to a smaller tank then keeping the temp at about 20 would be easier.

Its hard knowing what to do for the best, I have been looking into fish vets, trouble is most only specialise in koi and I dread to think what the cost would be

 

[minxfishy]

You dont want to lower the temp, Oscars do not do well at lower than 23/24, they become very lethargic. So long as he is eating I wouldnt worry too much.

 

[star4]

Lathargic at lower that 23 hmmmm no jumping, chasing me (just kidding)

He eats fine, no worries about that at all

 

[Ryan_W]

I wouldn't worry too much...

These two sound like they're hyperventilating pretty much 24/7, but they're hugely active and happy...

I'm sure Chops will will be fine!

Ryan

 

[star4]

Finally I have a pic (of sorts) of the inside of Chops's mouth. You can just see on his left side the pink indentation which is worrying me about the flow of water over his gills.