Help with my RTC please.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N

ndcp18

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 9, 2009
37
0
0
Las Vegas
Hi im not sure if my rtc has got a disease or what it could be but he has like almost like a cut or a hole right behind his gills. I know he has gill curl and i been trying to cure it but i wanted to know if he has somso please bear with me. If anyone can help me identify or tell me of any opinions or even how to cure gill curl. I think my 7 inch RTC looks like he has pretty advanced gill curl on one side. Thank you i appreciate it.

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There are plenty of threads on gill curl on MFK, so just use the search tool to find them. "Gill curl RTC" should get you plenty of results, including a post I created after speaking to a fish vet on possible causes and treatments. The hole you speak of -- are you meaning the "wrinkle" on the white part behind his gill? Without a better picture, it's hard to be definite, but these "wrinkles" are normal.
 
I just wanted to add that for a fish like this, you're going to need 6 to 10 times turnover in your tank (more is better), and eventually a volume of 1,000 gallons to house him for life. Check your parameters once a week, and if you find ammonia or nitrite over 0, you need more filtration or more volume or both. Nitrates should be kept under 20 or 30 with water changes.
 
No problem. Please do take the time to research gill curl -- there's a good chance that at his size the condition is reversible if you take the time and steps to treat the conditions he's living in. In addition, please review his current living situation and ensure that he's in the right conditions now, and that you have the means to provide the right conditions throughout his life (20 years, or more).
 
yea im doing this as a temp im setting up my jacuzzi thats not being used thats a 800 gallon for a growout with a pond filter, and im also working when things get better at a job to work on my 25x10x4 ft pond. Roughly somewhere around 7000 gallons.
 
What size tank is he in? Just make sure that you work quickly, because he's not going to stop growing any time soon! Also, you may want to review the DIY threads on your jacuzzi idea, as well as your pond build. There's a lot of info there that could be of use.
 
The curl on the gill is bad. I see it curling to the plate of the gill. Poor water quality is the cause of most gill curl. The wrinkle behind the gill is the lease of your problems at this moment.
 
At the most, you have six or seven months, in my estimate. Any more than that, and you're going to see more problems for this guy due to water quality. Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade filtration. A DIY sump is probably the best bet, with a 1000 gallon-per-hour pump, at least. And start working on your future housing. Also, as I said, test weekly, or more. What are your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings currently?
 
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