My Dempsey is bent!

[RequiemTCE]

Over the last few weeks my 6-7" female Dempsey has become progressively more and more bent. Right in the middle. It's still being aggressive with the other fish like always and eating, but it just sits on the substrate like a V when at rest.

When it started it was just a hint, now the fish is bent more or less at 90 degrees. The outside of the bend appears to be bulgy, and the inside indented, even when she straightens out to get aggressive or swim quickly. She mostly swims sideways when not being aggressive or chasing food.

It's really becoming a drag on the tank, I can't just keep this fish even if it remains healthy in it's bent state. Any advice or should I just flush this thing and find something else?

 

[skillzizzo]

Deffenitly need to post some pics for any kind of resonce to what it would be. I would be more concerned about the health of the fish then it being a eye sore to your tank. If looks is your main concern give it to some one that wants to get it healthy. And get some thing else. And i am not trying to be a jerk in any way shape or form. I have personaully only seen fish get the curvicture of the spine issue from being in to small of tanks. And i dont know what your set up is so i couldnt say if that is the issue. Good luck and post pics if you want a responce on what is wrong with it or how to fix it.

 

[RequiemTCE]

The tank is a 150 with pretty sparse stocking. Daily 5-10% water changes(however much it takes to remove the waste) and weekly 40-50%. Two Rena SP3 filters, all the other fish are in excellent health. All water parameters are good. Temp 81.2.

This tank is for display, and all everybody was doing was just fixating on the Dempsey and the women were getting all sad watching it. I'm pretty sure it was just a permanent physical injury, and I can't imagine it would be quick to give it away if anybody ever even wanted it, so I ended up euthanizing the fish the day before yesterday with the clove oil and vodka method.

 

[RequiemTCE]

Also, the decision to put it down wasn't completely in a vacuum, I had a fellow MFKr deliver a fish the other day and he took a look at it, he said that it wasn't ever going to be straight again even if it lived, and at worst it could get the other fish sick. He seemed very knowledgeable about all of this stuff and he didn't think there was any problems with the tank. He actually recommended that I get 3 or 4 more 5-7 inch fish.

 

[lipadj46]

I agree kill it as it is sick beyond repair, use melafix or clove oil (toothache stuff from drug store) to putit to sleep then add some alcohol to kill it

 

[Bellawitz]

I just did some research, and this is what I found to seem the best answers on how this happened:

Malnutrition may cause spinal deformities so take care to check your fish's nutritional requirements and feed fish every day. Lack of Vitamin C is sometimes identified as a cause of scolosis, so take care to properly store your fish food and be sure it is not too old. A good rule of thumb is to toss out any foods that have been opened for 6 months. Fresh food may be a good source of vitamin C as well.

If your fish is outside in a pond, a bent spine can be caused by lightening strikes. Equipment leaking electricity in the tank can also result in a bent spine if the fish becomes grounded.

A bent spine is one of the signs that the fish in infected with bacteria called Mycobacteria. Some people refer to this condition as "fish tuberculosis" or "fish TB." Mycobacteria (there are several kinds) are gram-positive bacteria that infect slowly and gradually cause more and more problems for the fish. Other symptoms may include emaciation, redness, lethargy and exophthalmia (pop-eye). If this infection spreads to the skeleton of the fish, the spine may bend. There is not currently any treatment for mycobacteriosis. Isolation or euthanasia are recommended to avoid spreading.
Many people believe that fish that are over crowded and lack nutrious food are far more susceptible to this infection than fish kept in good conditions. So it is a disease easier to prevent than cure. Read more about Mycobacteria here.
Mycobacteria can cause "granulomatous skin disease" or "fish handlers disease" in humans. It enters through breaks in the skin. If you suspect fish TB, avoid placing hands or arms with open sores in the aquarium. Cleaning hands with anti-bacterial gel hand sanitizers should be done as a precaution. People with a compromised immune system should avoid coming in contact with aquariums where fish TB is suspected.


Internal swellings, tumors, or not being able to expel eggs can also cause bent fish because the pressure or pain from the swelling/tumor causes them to favor one side.

 

[Loshmitchell101]

I bought a a 8'' JD that was completely bent in the middle also, they original owners have only ever fed it
goldfish its entire life, its malnutrition

 

[RequiemTCE]

She ate massivore and krill on a regular basis.