for some time now my male platydoras has had gill operculums folded, curved forwards.
He has a habit of putting himself in a spawning tube for loricarids. Could it be an injury?
Or a disease?
Can he live like this without worries?
I don't remember that those gill caps were like that when he arrived.
I've seen something similar, but it's not necessarily exactly the same, on some other fish long ago. I thought back then it was due to a parasite, but I had no proof.
The most common cause of this condition is low O2/ high CO2 levels and/or high levels of ammonia. I would suggest a series of water changes to confirm this is not the case before trying any medications. The damage can be permanent but often the fish live out healthy lives. There are times when this is caused by a bacterial infection, but if that were the case, I suspect you would note the same condition in this fish's tank mates as well.
Keep in mind the condition can be caused by a single incident such as an extended power outage or extended time in a bag without water changes.
-Shane
"My journey is at an end and the tale is told. The reader who has followed so faithfully and so far, they have the right to ask, what do I bring back? It can be summed up in three words. Concentrate upon Uganda."
Winston Churchill, My African Journey
I don't have anything to test O2, CO2 and ammonia. On the other hand, I was able to test the nitrates and these are less than 5.
The corydoras who are with them even laid eggs yesterday. The congeners do not suck the air on the surface, have their usual behavior. On the other hand, I noticed that my big female platydoras was eating more than usual.
I also noticed that the hypostomus basilisko had a habit of ejecting him from the tubes every time he changed tubes.
I don't add CO2 and I have a bubbler so the CO2 level should be relatively low.
In population there are 3 platydoras armatulus, 13 corydoras aeneus, 2 L200 and a hypostomus basilisko, 300l tank (temporary for platydoras and l-number).
Even in the case of a lack of oxygen, why would a single fish be bad?
Is there a test without reagent that I can do?
I smelled water and no ammonia smell, no haze.
I'm still going to do a water change this morning. How often and how much do you recommend?
My initial "medication" if I note something out of the ordinary is always a water change. I have found water changes often do more good than using medications without a concrete diagnosis. I keep my tank stocking levels low and all tanks get a 40-50% water change every 7 days.
I see two possibilities for your fish 1) Your Corys and plecos can breath air if O2 levels are dipping low or 2) Your specific fish could have sustained the injury during the capture and import process.
-Shane
"My journey is at an end and the tale is told. The reader who has followed so faithfully and so far, they have the right to ask, what do I bring back? It can be summed up in three words. Concentrate upon Uganda."
Winston Churchill, My African Journey
He had trouble breathing this morning so I preferred to put him in a hospital tank with a slightly stronger bubbler.
I'm going to treat it with a broad spectrum treatment (esha 2000) and I hesitate to put cattapa leaves. Do I also need the worm treatment?
I'll take a nitrite and ammonia test at the same time just in case.
I think I have found the cause of the problem: I have a very fine soil which is possibly fermenting.
I noticed air pockets in the sand, I tried to pierce one and it doesn't smell bad but I still have my doubts.
I can temporarily move my fish to other tanks.
However, how long should I wait before putting them back? Knowing that this bin has been cycled for over a year.
I wonder whether a better tank will refold the operculums. Obviously, if this is the cause, putting them back will only be an option if the soil has been improoved
That can happen because you changed it, or by good plant growth. But that would require more than a year I'm afraid
