short barbles

jenratico

jenratico

Jen
Apr 8, 2008
176
0
0
Denver, CO
Now that I've had my new panda cories for awhile I've finally seen them all up close and personal and can distinguish them from one another (for the most part). Anyway, one of them has very short barbles and doesn't seem to be as active or eating as much - he seems a little listless. I assumed the short barbles were a bit of a defect, but didn't think much of it when I first noticed. Now I'm wondering if it makes it harder for him to find food etc. Any thoughts? Not much I could do for him if that is the case other than put him in a tank with a little less competition - everyone in my tank likes to browse and bottom feed.

55g planted
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10, PH 7.5
weekly 30% water changes

6 black neons
3 neon rosy barbs
6 rosy barbs
5 panda cories
5 oto's
2 juvenile dojo loaches
 
msjinkzd said:
what is the substrate?
Click to expand...
mixed substrate - one bag of flourite mixed into some very fine smooth gravel (about like this "O") that I believe is called tek mineral (It's been in the tank for about 7 years and I don't quite remember).

All the other panda's and dojo's barbles look great.
 
I think I'll try to net him when I get home tonight and put him in a hospital tank with a clear bottom for a while and see how he does.
 
It may be a good idea, be sure to acclimate him to the qt to help reduce the stress. Perhaps he just needs a little TLC to be as healthy as his buddies. Clean water and easy food may help you achieve this better. I wish you all the best, hopefully he will perk up and be able to be returned with his buddies quickly.
 
short barbels are a sign of stress or illness. if the rest of your cories are looking fine, isolating the one cory is a good idea. however, if you notice the rest of your cories start developing short barbels, you need to check your water parameters and then adjust your tank accordingly. the barbels will grow back with proper care.
 
Okay, I've got "shorty" in a 2 gallon on the kitchen counter. He has a coffee mug for a cave, some fake plants and a little whisper filter. The house stays in the 70's so he should be fine on temperature. I sure hope he pulls through. Every one else has been fine.
 
Could be one of two things-

Stress or

Cories use their barbels to "rake" around in the muddy water of the amazon in search for food. If the substrate is gravel, they will may still rake and damage their barbels. Since you have a flourite/smooth gravel substrate, it's likely his barbs were "shortened" at the lfs tank.

Regardless of the cause, clean water, good food, and maybe a high temp will help. Adding salt can be harmful to cories though, and it's really not necessary anyways.
 
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