Help With Brichardi

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey all.

I really hope someone can help me ... I doubt this is something dire but extra info would be great.

I have a brichardi which I bought November\December last yr, I wasnt sure on the tank size required and slapped it into a 3ft tank (naive I know).

I have noticed since march that the mouth area has been forced out of shape (bad wording but I am not sure how else 2 describe it) ... Eating is is still normal and the fish seems unphased but I am not sure why this has happened ... Maybe someone can tell me (pix attached) and could someone tell me if it's male or female.

Also are these fish slow growers cause mine has barely grown, will only eat tetra bits and seems overly calm.


Here is a pic taken Jan. (mouth normal)



Here is a picture which I took less than a week ago ... All I did was net it and take the pic which wasnt easy (phone in 1 hand net in the other) ... so please excuse the bad pic ...

The part I circled ... when the fishes mouth is close is about 2mm and makes it look as if it is pushing its lips out ... is this normal ??




All info will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Richard.

 

[capester]

most Tangs are fairly slow growers really. How big is the fish now, it's hard to tell. I can't realy see much wrong on the pic TBH. Unfortunately brichardi seem to be one of the most regularly offered Tangs that have been inbred/deformed so it may be something to do with that. Also, someone told me recently that young fish can become deformed by bacteria levels in the sand that are caused by undergravel filteration.
Other than that it may have been injured during territorial squabbles.

He looks healthy enough and they always seem fairly calm as well as they are so confident!Hopefully it will return to normal.