Curved Spine On Espei Rasbora

[jimmies]

I noticed this morning that one of my seven rasboras has a s-shaped spine in the last third....it is very active and can swim fine, and apart from this spine thing he looks normal. Notsure how long it has been like this as you can only see it from above and I don't often look from above, I tried to get a pic but it is impossible to get a good one - but it is just as I described

But I read that this could be fish TB and I might need to take down the whole tank and kill the fish.....could any of you advise?

 

[fluttermoth]

Fish TB is very rare, so it's unlikely to be that. It's more likely that it was born deformed; it's quite common.

 

[jimmies]

When I got it 4 months ago it did not have it.....it has happened in the last 2 weeks at most

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmm, not a congenital deformity then. I still don't think it's TB; you'd be seeing a lot of other symptoms if it was that (skinny fish, ulcerations, lethargy).

It could be caused by poor water quality, or old age.

 

[jimmies]

I hope it isn't....I will keep a eye on him.

The water quality seems fine....all test using the master kit are at the correct levels - as for old age, he is only 8 months old at most, is that old for a Espei Rasbora?

 

[fluttermoth]

No, it's not; three to five years would be a normal lifespan, although of course, you don't know how it old it was when you got it.

What are the actual numbers from your tests? Is your water hard or soft?

 

[jimmies]

6.8 ph and 0 for ammonia,nitrite and nitrate

 

[Man of fish]

Do you, by chance, change the filter cartridge? You should have nitrates...

Also how often do you water change?

 

[jimmies]

I have plants too, if that makes a difference - and every two weeks the intake filter(sponge) and the main filter (sponge) gets cleaned in tank water. I do not touch the bio-mass balls at all. I haven't physically changed the filter in the time I've had the tank....around 8 months. The nitrate colour is yellow on the test.

 

[Man of fish]

Ok I guess that makes sense. So how often do you do water changes and how much do you change?

 

[jimmies]

every two weeks I do a 10 to 20 percent change.......I keep an eye on the levels and it has been very stable since it first cycled at the start. The tank keeps itself very clean so I disturb it as little as possible

 

[WILDER]

Causes of bent spine.

Injury.
Birth defect.
Old age.
Vitamin deficiency.
Internal parasites.
Fish TB.

Just keep a close eye on your fish for when they go to the toilet. (Long stringy white poo, clear mucas poo)

Make sure your fish don't have enlarged anus, or red nflamed anus.
Also check there no worms sticking out of the anus of the fish.

 

[jimmies]

cheers, will do

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.