Well, I've learned another lesson the hard way. Or maybe it was just a freak accident!

I have a 20 gallon fry tank that I also keep three albino bristlenose in that have been growing out for a long time now. There has never been any problem with this set up. The fry come and go and the bristlenose remain.

Last night a short while after lights out, I tossed in a couple of shrimp pellets and an NLS wafer for the plecos.

This morning I found a little fryeri with a shrimp pellet stuck in his mouth. I caught him, and with much care, I was able to remove the pellet, but now his mouth is stuck open. :Sad: I'm afraid to try to force it shut and the fish is so tiny I don't see how I'm going to be able to try to work it loose. It's probably not an inch total length.

It's not looking too good. The gills looked a little red and I know it must have had a hard time passing any water through them with that pellet crammed in there.

I have it isolated in a breeding trap right now with its little mouth wide open. Should I wait and see if it can get it working again on its own? I'm hoping that the mouth will relax a bit now that the pellet is out and it will start working soon.

No more large pellets in a fry tank! Grrrr

I don't have experience with this but I KNOW there was a thread about it in one of the major forums over the last year. It may have been before CH was founded. Maybe in ACF?

Dunno if this was much help, but that thread as I recall led to a happy ending.

Thank you Pseudo. I know you are right - I've read of this happening before, but I can't remember what the remedy was. I think there was mention of gently massaging the jaw back into place. idunno

But this fish is so tiny that I think I will break the jaw if I try to manipulate it at all.

To update, it's looking a little better than this morning. The mouth is still open, but not quite as wide. Hopefully it will continue to improve.

Aura, this isn't the link but it's on topic:

http://www.cichlidae.info/askpam/viewtopic...08da5d893cff1cb

And, less relevant:

http://www.aquariumpros.com/forums/showpos...767&postcount=1

I took a look at the links. I got a little bit of a kick imagining working the jaw with a popsicle stick. I think a toothpick would be closer to the proper size! I had to put on reading glasses in order to see what I was doing when removing the pellet. blinky

Anyway, last night before lights out it looked better - I'd say it was about half way open and this morning when I went to check on it, the breeder box was empty! I looked all over the tank and didn't see anything with an open mouth, so hopefully it has returned to normal. Wooo hoo!!

Thanks again for your help!

Glad to hear all is good Aura. He must have gotten fiesty and wanted out!

Cool! I'll keep my fingers crossed! Cloud 9