What's Wrong With My Von Rio Tetra?

[This Old Spouse]

Finally, here's a photo of my poor little Von Rio tetra with the curved spine. It (he? she?) was like this when I first got her about 3 months ago. There's another in the bunch with the same problem, but not as severe. The other 3 I have are completely normal, and have about doubled in size in the time I've had them, whereas the 2 with the curved spines have not grown at all. They don't seem to be distressed in any way. Anybody have an explanation?

 

[fluttermoth]

Looks like a congenital abnormality to me (ie; they were born like that), though it could be the result of bad husbandry while they they were small fry.

They will never be normal and probably will never grow or live as long as the healthy ones. Making sure they get enough food and don't get bullied is the best you can do for the poor little guys really

 

[drobbyb]

Yes, looks like a congenital defect. This sometimes happens when line breeding. Those particular fish should have been culled way before getting to your tank. It seems like whatever supplier your LFS uses doesn't practice quality control.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Yes, looks like a congenital defect. This sometimes happens when line breeding. Those particular fish should have been culled way before getting to your tank. It seems like whatever supplier your LFS uses doesn't practice quality control.

Well, and I should have been looking much more closely when they were going in the bag. Again, it doesn't seem to be suffering in any way except that its growth is stunted.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Dudfield]

looks the same as one of my gold barbs i brought, but as only been in my tank a few days i cant tell about the growth but he does socialise and seems to be getting on fine at the moment.


ps how do you get such good pics

when i try its small and blurrrrrrrrrie

 

[This Old Spouse]

looks the same as one of my gold barbs i brought, but as only been in my tank a few days i cant tell about the growth but he does socialise and seems to be getting on fine at the moment.


ps how do you get such good pics

when i try its small and blurrrrrrrrrie

I got the photos using my husband's macro lens and uber camera. He's a pro, and let me goof around with it for a half hour! My camera couldn't capture this!