Has anyone seen these?
Sorry for the poor pics...they don’t stay still
Sorry for the poor pics...they don’t stay still
Placidochromis phenochilus black tail
- Thread starter puffers4puffers
- Start date
I have seen this in several types of cichlids. It's normally caused by damaged nerves. The fish has lost the control of the skin cells responsible for the colour.
What are you basing that on?
Is there a publication where you read that?
are you an ichthyologist or biologist?
or is this just a guess or assumption?
Stuck chromatophores
One of my Juruparis (only one in this community tank) has just started today to have a dark tail area. A little darker on one side than the other. Fish is in excellent condition. Has anyone seen this before? It doesn't worry me but it's a bit strange.
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I don’t mean to imply that I disagree
I am skeptical
Where does that idea come from?
Is it theory or actual fact?
It's based on my experience and the experience of some very experienced fish keepers. Two of them vets specialized in tropical fish.
I actually saw a specimen of Pseudetroplus maculatus with the same kind of black tail just last Saturday. It got it after a fight with another cichlid.
You can also see it with cichlids that hit the glas or some other hard things with their head. After the crash often only one half of the head goes dark.
The black tails mostly seem to appear after fights with other fish or after being caught with a net. Which indicates mechanical injury.
The damaging of the chromatophores or other colours related skin cells for example is well known by the keepers of feather fin cichlids.
I actually saw a specimen of Pseudetroplus maculatus with the same kind of black tail just last Saturday. It got it after a fight with another cichlid.
You can also see it with cichlids that hit the glas or some other hard things with their head. After the crash often only one half of the head goes dark.
The black tails mostly seem to appear after fights with other fish or after being caught with a net. Which indicates mechanical injury.
The damaging of the chromatophores or other colours related skin cells for example is well known by the keepers of feather fin cichlids.
These have had the black tails their entire lives
And have only lived with clutch mates (and the boesemani rainbows)
Thank you for your input
And have only lived with clutch mates (and the boesemani rainbows)
Thank you for your input
I will also add that I've seen this in alot of cryptoheros hybrids. Personally has happened to fish I have bred, it happened when I bred two species of the same complex. Fry would be born with black tails.
Also seen this with melanochromis hybrids as well. Definitely not saying your fish are hybrids but there could be a small chance somewhere back on the line another species was involved. This happens often especially when the inexperienced fish keeper breeds two they think are the same.
Then again could just be a trait that has started to show. Black in fish doesn't always mean a good thing as previously mentioned their could be nerve damage or stress.Also at times as with swordtails the black in the tails and body can indicate they're cancerous.
Also seen this with melanochromis hybrids as well. Definitely not saying your fish are hybrids but there could be a small chance somewhere back on the line another species was involved. This happens often especially when the inexperienced fish keeper breeds two they think are the same.
Then again could just be a trait that has started to show. Black in fish doesn't always mean a good thing as previously mentioned their could be nerve damage or stress.Also at times as with swordtails the black in the tails and body can indicate they're cancerous.
Clutch mates can be just as aggressive toward each other as stranger-fish. Just suggesting this information is not a factor in the damage discussion.