Gourami With "split-ends"

saz326

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My two gourami's developed "split ends" on their feelers. These have now split to pretty much 3/4 of the length of the feeler.

I have ensured that they have a varied and vitamin filled diet, but the rays dont seem to be heeling at all.

Could it be the age of the fish? They do not seem to fight and water quality is not something I could even begin to think could cause the problem. - water is spot on.

unless Hard water could be the cause? (wouldnt think it would be a problem as they were locally bread and raised)

water parameters:

pH = 7.0
nitrite = 0
ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 30
fairly fast flow rate to filter
 
My two gourami's developed "split ends" on their feelers. These have now split to pretty much 3/4 of the length of the feeler.

I have ensured that they have a varied and vitamin filled diet, but the rays dont seem to be heeling at all.

Could it be the age of the fish? They do not seem to fight and water quality is not something I could even begin to think could cause the problem. - water is spot on.

unless Hard water could be the cause? (wouldnt think it would be a problem as they were locally bread and raised)

water parameters:

pH = 7.0
nitrite = 0
ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 30
fairly fast flow rate to filter

Hi, a couple of my gouramis have this problem. 1 quite bad the feeler is about 1.5cm an got split ends. Any ideas?
 
I have previously seen this in a variety of Anabantoids and would rather not speculate as to the cause of it... (frankly, I have no clue why)

I have however seen some born completely without labyrinths and to no ill affects... These feelers (labyrinths) are used as supplement breathing organs in their native (mainly) stagnant waters where the oxygen levels are low. In the aquarium with constantly moving waters, a healthy oxygen exchange takes place and the need for Labyrinths becomes secondary.

If anybody out there knows why they split... please let us know.
 
Are you sure the feelers are the labyrinths? I'd always understood the organ was in the head above the gills. And the feelers were modified fins, which the fish use to investigate their surroundings in less than perfectly clear water.

Maybe totally wrong of course :lol:
 
There are some of the things you get taught when you are young and vulnerable and never deviate from this belief unless you sit down and think about it logically.... (I mean... it is about 4 years ago that I figured it out that there is no such thing as a "tooth fairy")

Only now, (since you've mentioned it) I sat down and tried to find logic in what I've said.... and I failed dismally to find any grounds to validate that theory...

Way back in (I think) 1968, I read "somewhere" the account of the feelers being the labyrinths that Anabantoids use to assist their breathing in low oxygenated water.... and have since believed it, only because I just accepted what I read without questioning it.

Suddenly now, the theory makes absolutely no sense to me and I apologise for the fairy tale I've posted above.....

At least there's nothing wrong with my memory though :)
 

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