Barbells decaying?

[alleykat0498]

My silver aro seems to be deteriorating around the mouth area? I have read no causes of this and my parameters are perfect. What can it be? The pictures dont show the full extent of it, the barbells have shrunk since yesterday, and there is a discolored spot around the bottom lip where the barbells meet the mouth. I'm clueless.

 

[sodenoshirayuki]

Not exactly sure, but im guessing its because it rammed into something too hard and the barbells got damaged, but didnt get damaged to the point where it would fall off yet, and now its starting to fall off.

 

[alleykat0498]

I just did a 50% water change and also literally watched this fish shed it's slime coat. Now I'm clueless. I added salt to the tank, any help is appreciated.

 

[sodenoshirayuki]

any more info? How big is your tank? Filtration? How many w/c do you do? Tankmates?

 

[alleykat0498]

he's 10 inches long in a 75 gallon tank, temp is 80 with 7x turnover rate (canister with bio and mechanical filtration) and he's in the tank alone. ammo 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate less than 10 ppm before a 50 % waterchange which I do twice weekly. After watching this fish for about 15 minute's I noticed that he was rubbing his lip on the tank glass back and forth and it seemed like the affected area that I mentioned above, so I rerouted the spray bar to the surface and I'm hoping he'll swim in the flow and keep the barbells and lip off of the glass. (is it possible he rubbed the area raw and this has caused the issue?)

 

[sodenoshirayuki]

If hes rubbing it, then maybe its irrating it. Maybe fungus or a minor cut. Just keep salting it and i think it will be fine.