Odd shape in young red jewel cichlid

[JuniorMonsterKeeper]

This one is the healthier normal looking jewel from same spawning. photos will say enough. I ve quarantined and fed metro n focus for a week to rid and IPs. Curious if this a genetic issue or something else unknown to me. Will post both my jewels bought from same store - stock was from a local breeder.

Noticed tail fin at the top has a kink and dorsal fin always looks clamped although it isn't as it flares open when the jewel desires so. It doesn't get chased or stressed and eats well and awims wel.

 

[MrsE88]

To me it looks like a birth deformity, but maybe also bloated. Have you tried feeding peas?

 

[JuniorMonsterKeeper]

To me it looks like a birth deformity, but maybe also bloated. Have you tried feeding peas?

No I haven't as of yet. Only did quarantine and internal parasite treatment. I Ve had a lot goin on and I need to drain and refil my hospital tank as I just did a Epsom salt bath today on my female red zebra. Should I give the gup a Epsom salt bath too then try feeding the pea or will it not help with the bloat?

 

[MrsE88]

It could help. You could go ahead and give it a bath too.

 

[duanes]

It is a common deformity of fish, in all large spawns, there will be a certain percentage that are always deformed.
That's how blood carrots were conceived, by breeding together certain deformities.
It has a curved spine at the caudal, and a deformed face and jaw.
It should have been culled before putting up for sale, but it may have been brought in before the deformity was noticed.
It may live a long time, but in my opinion should not be allowed to spawn.
When I see them in any of the cichlids that have spawned in my tanks, I feed them to large predators. There are often internal deformities beyond the visible ones that make life difficult for the fish as it grows.