Emma!~ I got the curved barbel loach pics. Plz look :)

[angelfish83]

First a picture of how this species holds its barbels usually

(This is the one with the cleft gill plate which I returned weeks ago)

Now here is the barbel problem one. now BOTH of his frontmost barbels almost look like they are rotting or something? Some kind of infection?

The only way to get pictures was in a plastic bag. Somewhat cruel, but it might improve his health to diagnose this in the long run. no fish were hurt (but they were darn scared) in the making of these pictures. Poor little guys....






You can see those barbels are really quite messed up...

While on the subject- the pattern on these fish is compleeetely wrong. The strapping on the dorsal fin is wrong, as well as on the anal, pectoral, caudal, pelvic, everything... Im not sure theres any histrionica in there at all at this point. They swim exactly like clown loaches. Histrionica swim more like a Kubotai or a rostrata, these swim like a clown, they even do the hop where they rise up vertically by flapping their pectoral fins together. Everything about them behaviour is completely clown loach and nothing histrionica... And they're friggin mean... The caudal fin- clearly obvious in the last pic is SOOO a clown loach caudal fin. You can even see it starting to turn orange, just like a clown. And where are the double straps on the caudal fin? Why is there a bottom strap and no top strap on the dorsal fin? Which should have no bottom strap to begin with? etc etc etc.

[shari2]

They look like someone had a go at them with a curling iron.
Maybe they are like the loach version of the curly winged fruit fly...

[angelfish83]

No thats the only one. it had one screwy barbel and now two. it is definitely a problem of some sort. All the other ones are fine...

[Graeme Robson]

Perhaps it's in need of Blood.

[angelfish83]

K seriously not funny. This is a genuine health issue I need genuine help.

[mikev]

K seriously not funny. This is a genuine health issue I need genuine help.

I really doubt you need help. A messed-up barbel is not a disease you can treat, unless you are thinking about cosmetic/reconstructive surgery. It is *probably* not connected to the possible parasite infection you seem to have, but regardless, you need to concentrate on clearing that. Then give the fish some time to acclimate and fatten.

The barbel with either mend itself in due course, or it would not.

---

But the fish is very nice. It seems to be more deserving to be called a "Tiger Loach" than the usual candidates.

[angelfish83]

Well... I think its a bacterial issue personally and I'd love it if Emma could chime in...

[angelfish83]

Someone? Please? Helpful input? I had to catch him it was a lot of trouble to get these photos...

[Martin Thoene]

I've been so busy this one went over my head.
I wonder if this fish just has some trauma there? As you said they're scrappy guys, so it's possible he got into a jaw lock with another and came off worse. Of course, there's a possibility of secondary infection after the fact.

How is the fish actually behaving?

Martin.

[angelfish83]

I've been so busy this one went over my head.
I wonder if this fish just has some trauma there? As you said they're scrappy guys, so it's possible he got into a jaw lock with another and came off worse. Of course, there's a possibility of secondary infection after the fact.

How is the fish actually behaving?

Martin.

Slightly timmid compared to the others. Otherwise ok

[Martin Thoene]

Is it eating Ok? It looks really healthy, if a little stressed in the bag.

Martin.

[angelfish83]

Well, its your damn fish soon enough so...



hehe

[shari2]

Actually, I was going to say the same thing...

If it seems to be behaving normally, eating, swimming, gaining weight and continues to exhibit similar behavior in the group and with the other fish it may not be degenerative.

You may have mentioned this already but has this been present since you got him, or is it something entirely new? Have they changed since you noticed them at first? Have you noticed any changes of a similar nature in any of the other fish?

While they may be aggressive, they are still quite unique. I'd hate to see you lose them.

[angelfish83]

Actually, I was going to say the same thing...

If it seems to be behaving normally, eating, swimming, gaining weight and continues to exhibit similar behavior in the group and with the other fish it may not be degenerative.

You may have mentioned this already but has this been present since you got him, or is it something entirely new? Have they changed since you noticed them at first? Have you noticed any changes of a similar nature in any of the other fish?

While they may be aggressive, they are still quite unique. I'd hate to see you lose them.

Nobody's losin em.. and technically they're Martin's at this point I did not notice this when I bought them. it has worsened. one curved then the other.

Once I figure out whats up Martin you can come get 'em

[shazam26]

This is so strange I feel bad for the little guy.
Is he able to uncurl them? In the last one it looks like he can a bit.
I'm really curious about what this could be.
I wonder where Emma is?