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One of my gold barbs has had a problem with it's gill cover for awhile....I'd assumed that it was just damage and nothing serious, today I noticed that it looked even more red then usual and slightly swolen
This one is in the 30 gall work tank so it's somewhat difficult for me to get pics...I'll try to get better ones, but so far this


is all I have...

Any ideas

^_^[/font]

Could it be gill parasites, gill flukes.

Last edited by kitty163 at 07-Oct-2004 10:58

Last edited by kitty163 at 07-Oct-2004 10:59

Well I did look into those two a bit....he's not displaying any other symptoms such as flashing, lack of appitite, or being lethargic....and a google image search didn't help any either .

The red area which would normally be covered by the gill covers does seem to be swolen, like somethings pushing the cover back.

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*

Could you add some salt to the tank, that's all I can suggest sorry.

Does it look like one of the scales is bent backwards?

At the NY Aquarium, they have an arowana that seems to have one of its scales almost pulled back, exposing some of the red flesh. He was fine all summer long (I came into work every day and saw him). It didn't seem to bother him.

I would say just keep an eye on him to see if he develops other symptoms...of course, other will come along with more advice as well.

Last edited by solublefish at 07-Oct-2004 15:08

Its not clear from the photo whether the gill cover is simply shortened or if it is all there, but is curving forwards. If its a shortened gill plate, the fish would have looked pretty much the same since purchase. If the condition is new, I too would suspect gill flukes.

If you are so inclined you try examining a small sample under the microscope using a small blunt blade to scrape a smear from the gill area - needs steady hand with such a small fish. Hold the fish in a dripping wet piece of paper towel for the sampling, which should take only a few seconds.

Or you could go ahead and treat the fish with an antifluke treatment like a formalin bath.

If the fish is not precious to you, you might wish to euthanize quickly by decapitation so at to not kill any parasites, if present, then cut the gill plate off with sharp manicure siscors, then snip out the gill filaments and view the lot under a scope - sounds drastic, I know, but this could reveal a threat to the rest of the fish in your tank and allow you to treat accordingly - Star Trek's Spock's "the life of the one for the life of the few".

"you might wish to euthanize quickly by decapitation..."

My Canadian friend is destined to work in a butcher shop or a fish market.

Ammonia spikes take a toll on gills, a sensitive area on fish.

The gills flare up a bright red from the irritation.

--garyroland.

--Vero Beach, Florida