a Question of anatomy

cichlidfinder · Post by **cichlidfinder** » 29 Dec 2005, 02:42

I have recently been in a discussion that has been on this forum before. Which brings me to my question. As a person who has kept RTC's before Through My experiance I was under the impression that RTC's had no slime coat to speak of.

If someone here with anatomical knowledge could possiably expand on the varied slimecoats of some cat fish including some loricariidae I would greatly appreciate it.

Post by **Silurus** » 29 Dec 2005, 02:55

All fishes have a mucus coating to varying degrees. It is thicker in "naked" catfishes (such as RTCs) than in catfishes with dermal bone (i.e. the "armored" catfishes).

cichlidfinder · Post by **cichlidfinder** » 29 Dec 2005, 03:33

If thats the case can you tell me why when you handle a RTC its not slimy in fact its the exact opposite. RTC's feel like leather. Any other keepers of this fish help me out if you've felt the same thing.

PS Or am I the only guy dumb enough to pick up an RTC with his bare hands

Post by **Silurus** » 29 Dec 2005, 03:57

A healthy fish produces a very thin coating of mucus. If you begin to actually feel the coat, it's a sign that the fish is undergoing stress.