Damaged Barbels?

[Slough Shark]

Hello all,

I have a bit of a problem in my 30 gallon River Loach Community tank. It is still in progress, I am waiting until I get some Powerheads to get my Sucker Hillies. So far I have:

1x Misgurnis anguillicaudatus
1x M. mizolepis
1x Schistura poculi
Random vagrant dither fsih (danios, juvenile goldfish) housed here until fed to my predator

The problem is with the two Misgurnis sp., some of their barbels are red at the tips and some have been gnawed half-way down. I am very concerned as my Migurnis are my favorite loaches (the anguillicaudatus was my first tropical fish save for the loads of goldfish casualties that preceded him).

I have reason to believe that it is the schistura causing the problem. It is constantly nipping at them (not around the face that i have seen) and is the most lively of alll the fish in the tank. the schistura is 1 of 4 survivors and I am slightly attatched to him, but if he is the cause I will gladly rid the tank of his presence.

Thanks for any help guys,
Taylor

[shari2]

M. anguillicaudatus is not a 'tropical' fish, really.

As for the barbels, what type of substrate is in your tank? How long has the tank been set up? Can you give us the low-down on your tank parameters and possibly post a picture? Would help a lot.

[Slough Shark]

I meant to put quotations around the tropical part of that sentence. I meant to say that it was my first fish that wasn't a goldfish

Sure, the tank has relatively fine-grained sand, pebbles, and rounded river rocks. Tank is about 3.5 months old, I have moderate lighting (to encourage algal growth), and there are a couple of plants in the tank alos. The tank is not heated, as can be expected for any cold-water fish tank (as was my goldfish tank). What do you mean by parameters? pH? It was at 7.4 last time I checked, same as all of my other tanks.

As for pics, I should have my photobucket acount for fish pics up and running by tommorow, I will post then.

Thanks again,
Taylor

[shari2]

parameters = pH, nitrates, nitrites, temp...you covered most of it already.
Thanks.

When did you first notice the barbel problem? Is it something that you noticed recently? How rapidly are they receding? Any change since you first noticed? Has the redness spread up toward the mouth? Have you noticed any white patches/blotches or redness/red streaks anywhere else on the dojos?

Have the dojos been in the tank since you set it up? How did you cycle the tank?

Sorry for all the questions, but diagnosing via the internet is problematic at best. All the info you can think to give would be most helpful.

[Diana]

Often barbel problems are related to high nitrates, but not always. Increasing the water changes can help. If it is another fish nipping at them then the easiest solution is to separate the fish.
I have cories, other cats and loaches in tanks with many different substrates, and do not have problems with barbels; plants in all the tanks and water changes keep the nitrates under 20 ppm for sure, and most are under 10 ppm. Before I had the nitrates under control I would see fish (mostly cories) with shortened barbels.

[Emma Turner]

I would be very surprised if the Schistura poculi had anything to do with it. In my experience they are one of the more placid species of Schistura and stay relatively small.

It is more likely to be a problem caused by sharp substrate/decor, detritus build up on the substrate, poor water quality, bacterial infection etc.

Emma

[Slough Shark]

Thanks so much for the advice guys, I will check the other parameters tonight or tommorow morn, pics are in another thread if they help.

Thanks again guys,
Taylor