Gourami as a damaged gill

spongebobert

Registered Member
Mar 17, 2011
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I just noticed it a few days ago when i saw a bloodworm sticking through its gill. Is this anything serious, or is it normal damage that will heal on its own?

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Are you sure that isn't a deformity? Either way its not going to heal over full to where it will look normal. It will always have a missing part of its gill plate.
 
Operculum (gill cover) deformities are fairly common. This could be something the fish was born with, or it could be a result of trauma. If it is a deformity, it will always look like that. If it is from trauma, it may be able to repair itself to a certain extent, but will never get back to normal with that large of a chunk missing. Either way, this shouldn't have a negative effect on the fish.
 
No negative effect other than getting to watch a bloodworm hangout through its gill every now and then. But yes, sadly, it will always be missing that one gill.
 
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