Eel with broken jaw?

[cfd3lsd]

I've had eel for nearly two years who has completey stop eating. It has been nearly five weeks, eventhough I tried feeding him daily.

I think his jaw maybe broken. When he opens his mouth fully his jaw seems jut out to the right. When his mouth is closed the top and bottom par of his mouth do not line up.

Unfortunitely, I have an extensive network of caves and piping for him to live in, so pics are near impossible.

Any thoughts?

The area directly beyond his jaw is beginning to look emanciated; however the rest of his body looks fine.

[DragonMorayEels]

cfd3lsd, From what you are saying it be best if you a fish doctor anywhere near you for the eel what need to be examine and possibly X-rayed and if it comes to the worst, surgery. Now I'm sorry I don`t know the name of those types of hospitals are called and there is one about two hours I think from where I live.

OOPS!, The thought I had in mind was to offer you that Monday I would call them to get the information for you to post it here, but you are all the way on the other end of the country.

I will still call and get the name for maybe there be one around by you. Just out of curiosity, how did this happen and how long ago and when was the last time the eel fed?

Also, which species of eel is this? And if your feeding fresh strips of fish, it will be best to offer the eel shorter and thinner strips then it would normally feed on. You need to help it out to manage to feed so you will not, or possibly later be pulling your hair out when it not had feed for 5-6 months or more.

If you a larger type of eel, this not feeding for 5 months would be nothing to be so concern about, but do offer this eel real small strips of fish in the eel feedings.

Also if you any aggressive fish in this tank, it would be best to move them out.

I hope your eel will recover for it`s rather hard for me to tell without viewing it for myself

Buddy ><{{{{">

[cfd3lsd]

From your note,
"Also, which species of eel is this? "
- Snowflake, approx. 24 inches, slightly less than a 50 cent piece in width.

"fish doctor anywhere near you for the eel what need to be examine and possibly X-rayed and if it comes to the worst, surgery"
- I guess San Fran would be my best bet but I wouldn't know where to begin (finding vet, capturing the eel, 2 hour drive, & cost -YIKES!)

"how did this happen and how long ago and when was the last time the eel fed?"
- Not sure how this happen, maybe I gave him a large shrimp. As for how long, he has had only one small krill in at least a month. Keep in mind; I was feeding him at least 6-8 pieces every other day before this incident. In addition, I would mix in squid and other foods.

- He is the most aggressive inhabitant of the tank (tank mates: 2 scarlet shrimp, tomato clown, strawberry basselett, & firefish)

- Water parameters are great. I have vibrant, growing Frogspawn, zoos, & shrooms.

[cfd3lsd]

Oh, Thanks for the concern!

[DragonMorayEels]

The best thing you can do right now is if you know any animals hospitals near you that you try to give them a call and explain to them what your looking for and when you do find one, you need to have the eel in as large a box or bucket and try not to push so much stress on the eel for if you readied my thread on a injury, which happen about two weeks ago, my male dragon was on his back and looking ever so lame and ever time I read something like that from others, most people had lost their eels

Had you seen it feed at all since you noticed the problem and did the sfe feed in the normal way it did all the times before or was there a huge change in how the eel accepted the foods?

from what your saying that this could had happened when it fed and it sounds more like lockjaw that his lower jaw moved out of place. Something like this you not hear about just any day but I do believe it is a strong possibility

I mean my daughter a while back had to have a hole drilled in her lower law to release pressure for when she eats you be sitting there and hear her jaw bones make noise.

I suggest young man (you are younger then 68, aren`t you?) That you do that in locating one if you can and they might have a service to come to your home, but the cost if the eel means a lot to you is nothing for it be the same thing like I two cats and the female had to have some serious surgery for her knee caps or so was broken and the surgery ran me $2,000.

Do let me know, if in your area the vets are open, try calling around and also best if you know of any specialist in the area for they should know what is around.

Still offer the eel on those feedings less in size to try to help prevent the eel to have to bite down, and I'm sorry that I cannot offer you any better assistance in this madder than from what I have.

Buddy