I got a group of a dozen Scleromystax barbatus several months ago from a kind person on these forums. They were all juveniles and I am quite happy to have them. Here's what's up:
4 or 5 of them have grown quickly and taken on coloration. I assume these are males. They appear to be super healthy and happy.
The rest are still pretty small with the same coloring they came with and seem mostly to have lost fins! Some tend to briefly lay on their sides (missing pectorals), while others have missing dorsal fins. Some seem to have one pectoral, others have none. Most all of the little ones have the bottom half of the "V" of their tail missing too!
Water conditions are perfectly fine. No excessive ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. The fact that many of them are doing great tells me water quality is not the issue. I am using Turface as a substrate and the fish's barbels are all in good shape, which rules out sharp substrate.
My assumption is that the males are harrassing the females. They are in a 10 gallon planted tank. This is/was a grow out tank before they go in my 125. They were just wee tiny juvies when I got them. Any suggestions? At this point, I think I will move one group or the other into the 125. I'm not sure whether to move the small, unfinned ones, or the larger finned ones, though. The 125 is heavily planted and has just finished cycling. These would be the first fish in the tank... Suggestions are appreciated.
4 or 5 of them have grown quickly and taken on coloration. I assume these are males. They appear to be super healthy and happy.
The rest are still pretty small with the same coloring they came with and seem mostly to have lost fins! Some tend to briefly lay on their sides (missing pectorals), while others have missing dorsal fins. Some seem to have one pectoral, others have none. Most all of the little ones have the bottom half of the "V" of their tail missing too!
Water conditions are perfectly fine. No excessive ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. The fact that many of them are doing great tells me water quality is not the issue. I am using Turface as a substrate and the fish's barbels are all in good shape, which rules out sharp substrate.
My assumption is that the males are harrassing the females. They are in a 10 gallon planted tank. This is/was a grow out tank before they go in my 125. They were just wee tiny juvies when I got them. Any suggestions? At this point, I think I will move one group or the other into the 125. I'm not sure whether to move the small, unfinned ones, or the larger finned ones, though. The 125 is heavily planted and has just finished cycling. These would be the first fish in the tank... Suggestions are appreciated.
