L330 lost pectoral odontodes. Normal?

[DHarris]

About 6 months ago I picked up a 13" L330. It's been a great fish. Active, always eating and hasn't tried to mess with anyone else too badly.

When I first purchased this fish, it had some of the thickest and most full odontodes on it's cheeks (whiskers) and on the ends of it's pectoral fins.

While there's been zero change in it's behavior, appetite or anything else, it's begun losing some of those odontodes over the past couple of weeks. The ones on it's cheeks are still long but not as full. The ones on it's pectoral fins however are almost all gone and the leading edges of the fins are almost smooth now.

It hasn't been fighting and I have not done anything differently with the way I take care of the tank.

Happy to try to add pictures if needed but wondering if this is a normal occurrence and if so, what causes it?

Thanks!

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

That's a common issue. When I got my 23" L191, he had them as well, as months went on and lost them. He seems to be recovering and they are coming back after about 9 months since I think I got him. Now they all will/can be different, some may not grow them back, some will grow some back and some may fully recover most of them.

 

[DHarris]

Thanks for letting me know it's a common thing. Glad to hear that.
It's so strange that nothing changed and all of a sudden they just disappeared.
Any clue as to what causes this or is it mystery?

 

[Lugal]

My 9" unsexed BEC in 50g tank lost few of its odontodes too, despite eating very well (cucumber/ zucchini/ sweet potato) and tamed enough to be hand fed. I think it's strange because my 14" male BES that lives in 280g never lost one.

 

[phreeflow]

It’s common...by zebra males get super hairy during breeding season but loses odontodes during summer when breeding season is over. They also seem to lose them during shipping

 

[DHarris]

Though nowhere near as full as they were, my L330’s seem to be growing back fairly quickly.