Albino Cory Loosing Barbels

[Nick Bramley]

Hi, I've got four little Albino Corys in my 30l tank but one of them has lost nearly all it's barbels and looking at the others they all have considerably shorter barbels than my Cory of the same species in my 90l tank. The strange thing is when I first got my larger tank I was worried the smaller gravel may be a little sharp for the little guys so I kept an eye on them, fortunately they were fine and are very healthy but now my Corys in my smaller tank with much bigger gravel don't seem in such ship shape. The gravel isn't sharp but quite large, roughly the size of a pea. Could it be they've lost there barbels or injured them by having to rustle around in this bigger gravel for food?

Any ideas would be brilliant, thank you

 

[chibi]

Usually, lost barbels can be caused by infections. How often to you clean your gravel?

 

[ICEEGRL]

They can wear down or damage them in some cases. I have found that some are more avid diggers than others. Some are just more determined to get at the things at the very bottom I guess. If that is the case you might need to provide a sandy bottom for them.
It could also be a simple infection causing it...
It is hard to know for sure.
I wish I could be of more help.

 

[Colin_T]

high temperatures can cause it. Quite often corys living in discus tanks lose them because of the heat.
The other common cause is damage sustained when they dig in the gravel (already mentioned above). Sharp gravel and large/ course gravel are the worst culprits. Corys do best with sand on the bottom of their tank.
If none of the above then maybe a bacterial infection but it should show up as red areas on an albino cory.

 

[Nick Bramley]

I clean both my tanks fully very week without fail. I have noticed today a red splodge on the side of her like what has been said above, if it is a infection what is the best product to use to clear it up?

 

[Colin_T]

Waterlife Myxazin is meant to be safe on corys as is Triple Sulpha tablets.

It depends on how long the red spot has been there for and if it is getting bigger or just staying the same. If you only noticed it recently see how it goes over the next few days. It might heal up by itself. Fish have pretty good immune systems and quite often a little blemish clears up within a week. If it grows and spreads then treat the fish.

 

[jollysue]

I am running out of time so I only skimmed.

Cory barbells can be worn down with out any infection. If so they will grow back.

If they are red or inflamed then they are infected and must be treated, imo, with an antbiotic available to you. They should be in a hospital tank w/o any gravel that has daily water changes to keep the bacterial load low. A thin scattering of sand would be ok.

At any rate, these little guys don't need to be lifting granite boulders to get to their food. Get them some sand.

 

[Nick Bramley]

I was told the gravel I got would be perfect for Cories.

My little guy is much better now and his barbels even seem to be growing back.

Thank you for your help

Nick