cory catfish lost whiskers

[molly1]

Hello,

Two of my cories have lost their "whiskers". One of the two died. The other one is a little sluggish but still fairly strong. Does anyone have any ideas what disease might cause this? (I think it is an illness rather than a bullying situation as I haven't seen any fish picking on the cories.) I want to stop it before it happens to the rest of my cories.

 

[zzyzx85]

What kind of substrate do you have? Barbel loss is usually a combination of poor water condition and sharp gravel. What are your water parameters? High nitrates could prevent the proper regrowth of barbels.

 

[faun]

How long have you had your cories?
What size tank are they in and what else is in the tank?
What are your water parameters?
If you answer these questions you are more likely to get the answer you need.

 

[tanker]

How long have you had your cories?
What size tank are they in and what else is in the tank?
What are your water parameters?
If you answer these questions you are more likely to get the answer you need.

And what kind of gravel will help too.

 

[molly1]

I do have gravel in the tank. I don't know what type of gravel, other than it is coloured red and I bought it a long time ago in bags from an aquarium store. The cories are in a 38 gallon tank. Also in the tank are mollies and platies. The cories who have lost their barbels have been in the tank a year to a year and a half. My water is currently: pH 6.8, alkalinity 180 (KH ppm), chlorine 0 (ppm mg/L), hardness 150 (GH ppm), nitrite 0 (ppm mg/L), nitrate 20 (ppm mg/L). My water quality did suffer a bit in the past month, but it's getting better.

 

[jaylin]

My water quality did suffer a bit in the past month, but it's getting better.

That's probably your answer right there. Cories need to be maintained with good water quality and if you're using gravel, you have to make sure it stays fairly clean too. Otherwise barbells suffer.

I would put the cories into a bare bottom tank and keep the water very clean for a while.

 

[tanker]

I would put the cories into a bare bottom tank and keep the water very clean for a while.

And then their whiskers will grow back.

 

[molly1]

Ahh - good. I didn't know if their whiskers could grow back or not. I'm pleased to learn they can. Hopefully some TLC will take care of it. Thank you everyone for your help.