LockJaw Goldfish Koi can lead to death if left untreated
Symptoms include; unable to close mouth; unable to open mouth; jaws are locked, unable to swallow; spitting food; muscle spasms; raised scales caused by fever
Lockjaw goldfish Koi, a nickname given to a living organism we call tetanus. Tetanus creates a toxin that can be deadly to animals. It thrives in waste, in or out of our intestinal tracts, and is commonly found in animals, humans and goldfish alike. Although the bacteria may not thrive, it can survive outside of its friendly environment for long periods of time. Maybe you’ve heard that it’s caused by a scratch on a rusty nail, but any scrape, cut or puncture wound, even a bite from another fish, can open the door to infection. If the bacteria is on the prowl, any open sore is a target; a very good reason to disinfect even the smallest of wounds
The jaw may be locked open or shut
What is Tetanus?
Tetanus is not uncommon. Many humans and goldfish alike will suffer light cases of infection, experiencing only slight symptoms; numbness around an open wound or a few muscle spasms in an injured region. Those with healthy immune systems will easily overcome the disease without ever knowing it was present
Tetanus is not considered as a transmittable disease, but because it lives in waste, can be found in any environment where waste is present. Fish with open external or internal wounds, such as an abscess or a torn intestinal tract caused by blockage are at higher risk of infection. Fish with poor immune systems living in water that is poor in quality may succumb to infection quicker than a healthy fish living in a healthy environment. in an unhealthy ecosystem. From the time of infection, it can take only a few days or several months to manifest
LockJaw goldfish Koi
The toxin it produces paralyzes muscles, typically starting with the face. A goldfish may be unable to close its mouth, to swallow food or to pull water through its mouth and out the gills. As the infection progresses, meaning as the bacterium multiplies, all of the muscles in the body become paralyzed, including the heart, the last muscle to be affected
How to treat lock jaw in goldfish
Until you have the ingredients you need, reduce tank temperature to 54f by chilling tank water in the fridge; pour all around slowly; refill and repeat. Float some treated ice cubes, and lower the temperature of the room the fish are in if indoors
Remove entire lid if tank is enclosed
Set up a fan so that it skims the surface of the water
Buy Oop Boost and Sea Salt & Garlic Remedy (optional)
If you do not have a pond pump included in your set up, install one asap. Only a real pond pump provides the proper action to oxygen water. You’ll need a pump that pushes a minimum of 100 GPH (gallons per hour) for every 10 gallons of water; bigger is better. To treat you’ll need; a small tipped syringe. It would also be beneficial is a pond pump is set up in your fish house
Read about Pond Pumps
The pond pumps can be used to flush the gills. If the mouth is open, hold the fish upside down over the jet stream. Water will rush into the mouth, and out the gills, oxygenating the blood stream. If the mouth is locked closed, hold the fish right side up, and gently bend the head to one side. This motion will cause a gill to open. Water will rush into the mouth through gill, oxygenating the blood stream. This action may also force the mouth to open slightly. If this happens, using the syringe, force the mouth open, and hold the fish upside down over the jet stream. After a few moments, the fish may keep opening its mouth
Crank up the pond pumps to increase oxygen levels. If you don’t have a pond pump, scoop up a pitcher of tank water by pushing the container deep into the tank, pulling water up from the bottom; hold high over the surface and pour, letting the water hit hard, greatly disturbing the water. Repeat until pH levels are between 8. and 8.4 ppm. This is action removes Co2 and pulls O2 into the body of water from the surface. Carbon dioxide, a gas created from waste, takes up space in the body of water, keeping oxygen from entering. Most standard filtering systems do little to remove Co2, being designed for tropical fish. Goldfish create a great deal of waste, which leads to high levels of gases
The greatest enemy of bad bacteria is good bacteria and oxygen
If pH is lower than 7.5 after performing the pitcher method of oxygenating water, the carbonate mineral (KH) levels may be low in your freshwater source. This mineral gives water the ability to support oxygen, and low levels of carbonate mineral lead to low levels of oxygen
Read about testing KH Step 9: Testing Parameters
Read about how water is oxygenated Step 6: Oxygenating Water
The fish in the photo below was kept in water low in value, it’s immune system weak. It’s jaws are locked open, making it easy to administer the remedy, however, in some cases the jaws are locked closed, and the mouth must be forced open. Within three days after starting treatment, the mouth was moving, and the fish made a full recovery, however, this isn’t always the case. When the mouth is locked closed, the battle is more difficult
Follow instructions below if no pond pump is available
While you’re waiting on the remedies to arrive, work on getting the water quality in your fish house high in value. Follow the 10 Steps listed below
When the Oop or remedies arrive, add one ounce of Oop and one ounce of Sea Salt & Garlic remedy (per 10 gallons of fish house water) by premixing in one gallon of tank or pond water. Pour all around slowly, mixing with your hand as you do so
LockJaw in goldfish and Koi
Scoop the fish up in an appropriately sized container of tank or pond water
Fill dropper with container water
Keeping the body in the water, lift its head above the surface
Push tip in mouth, pointing towards one gill, then another, flushing water into the mouth and over the rake (internal part of gill that sends oxygen to the blood stream) repeat action three times
Repeat entire process three times daily for three days or until fish responds to treatment. It may be necessary to repeat treatment several times a day, and then for several days in a row
Follow the 10 Steps to Goldfish Koi Keeping to make certain your fish’s ecosystem is as health as it can be
LockJaw in goldfish and Koi
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Author: Brenda Rand