BD swallowing problem

[derek_discus]

Hi can anyone here help me to find out what is wrong with my stingray?. I have around 12inches BD male age 1year and 10mos still not sexually mature (small clappers) and p14 female same size. I have noticed that the spine of my BD fells off but I cannot find it in the tank after that incident he's appetite slows down and seems like he has difficulty in swallowing. Do you think he swallowed his own spine? Any ideas?
Many thanks for replies
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[millerkid519]

Dieselhybrid

 

[Jez1992]

It's possible, although unlikely. Barb would be quite big even for 12" Ray.

What does his belly look like? Any signs of inflammation around mouth or gills or any other injuries to him you notice that could cause lack of appetite?

 

[derek_discus]

It's possible, although unlikely. Barb would be quite big even for 12" Ray.

What does his belly look like? Any signs of inflammation around mouth or gills or any other injuries to him you notice that could cause lack of appetite?

Thank you for reply. There is no inflammation to the belly but I saw something in his mouth it's like a piece of tread hanging on the side of the month for couple of days now and still there he is trying to eat but you can see its difficult for him
BTW what do you mean by Barb?

 

[derek_discus]

Just check the mouth seems like he got wound on the side the thread that I'm talking about is actually his skin

 

[Jez1992]

Thank you for reply. There is no inflammation to the belly but I saw something in his mouth it's like a piece of tread hanging on the side of the month for couple of days now and still there he is trying to eat but you can see its difficult for him
BTW what do you mean by Barb?

It might be a wound, when they have one the skin around it sometime peels off like that be for it then heals.

Barb? His stinger? I presumed that's what you meant by his spine did you not?

 

[derek_discus]

Yes that's what I mean usually they regularly change that bard and that time when it pell off I didn't see it in the tank so I presume one of them eat it is hope he can recover

 

[keepinfish]

If so you might should take him out and remove the barb/spine/stinger. Do a search several people have done this.
Fishdog I believe posted pictures

 

[Dieselhybrid]

I've seen a barb swallowed before. It's very possible. I really hope that is not the case. The time I've seen it happen, it was fatal.

Have you gone down your checklist of everything else and eliminated other possibilities? Looks like you're barebottom so that eliminates the hidden barb possibility. You're confident he recently shed a stinger barb?

I've heard of anesthesia, ray belly up, and pliers to try and pull it out if you can see it through the mouth in the pharnyx.

This is a tough one

 

[derek_discus]

If so you might should take him out and remove the barb/spine/stinger. Do a search several people have done this.
Fishdog I believe posted pictures

I can't see it from the mouth. Might be swallowed completely but he got wound at the side of his mouth