Hi all,
My Chinese firebelly, around 7-8 years old with what I believe to be MBD (and I think I've posted on him in older threads) seems to have a bit of a problem keeping his lower jaw 'deflated'. The 'trait' has only been with him for about three months, while he's had MBD for going on a year or so now. He'll sort of breathe in beneath the water, causing the sac to inflate like it should, and then breathe back out, deflating it like it should. But when he's idle, or sleeping, it'll just inflate and stay like that, and it inflates itself automatically after deflation as well.
Despite his ailments, he's still a very feisty little guy during feeding time, but otherwise, he seems to enjoy lounging around on his landscape, finding the most peculiarly effective hiding spots, and just chilling in them until something catches his interest. I wouldn't say he's ill at all - he still eats and poops without any issue and he's not bloated in the least. Other than his coiled-up tail (presumably the MBD), the kink in his back (also from the MBD), and that inflation/deflation problem, he's pretty much perfectly fine for an older guy.
I'm just wondering if this is really a problem or not. It doesn't seem to cause him any discomfort or affect his behaviour at all, but is it a sign of anything? Thanks for any replies.
My Chinese firebelly, around 7-8 years old with what I believe to be MBD (and I think I've posted on him in older threads) seems to have a bit of a problem keeping his lower jaw 'deflated'. The 'trait' has only been with him for about three months, while he's had MBD for going on a year or so now. He'll sort of breathe in beneath the water, causing the sac to inflate like it should, and then breathe back out, deflating it like it should. But when he's idle, or sleeping, it'll just inflate and stay like that, and it inflates itself automatically after deflation as well.
Despite his ailments, he's still a very feisty little guy during feeding time, but otherwise, he seems to enjoy lounging around on his landscape, finding the most peculiarly effective hiding spots, and just chilling in them until something catches his interest. I wouldn't say he's ill at all - he still eats and poops without any issue and he's not bloated in the least. Other than his coiled-up tail (presumably the MBD), the kink in his back (also from the MBD), and that inflation/deflation problem, he's pretty much perfectly fine for an older guy.
I'm just wondering if this is really a problem or not. It doesn't seem to cause him any discomfort or affect his behaviour at all, but is it a sign of anything? Thanks for any replies.
