Q on Del's External Gills

[moonchild1970]

I have a 75G tank and all the parameters are perfect. I got a small 4" Delhezi not too long ago.

When I first got him he had tiny extrnal gills on both sides the same length. I know that the external gills can grow before they disapear, however,
since I have had him the one on the left has shrunk down and the one on the right has gotten way bigger. Is that normal?

 

[spwd]

Mmmm strange,i always thought they grew or shrunk at the same rate,is he alright apart from that?


Steve

 

[GarNiac]

Nice bichir,
One of my endli used to be like that before, nothing is wrong with it.
Now she is among the big bichirs in my tank, nice n healthy.

cheers

 

[teohha]

Is there anybody who knows conclusively the reason for external gills?

 

[phillydog1958]

He's fine. In nature, things are not always exact. In the end, both gills will be gone.

 

[Darth Scohin]

Is there anybody who knows conclusively the reason for external gills?

Check the Stickys they are there for the same reason amphibians have them to absorb more oxygen from the water to lessen the need to go up for air, because doing so would make the small fish a target for preadators.....The X-gills are a sign that Polypterus are an example of how animals begaan their first steps on land (along with others)

 

[moonchild1970]

Yeah he is perfectly healthy. Eats like a horse lol.

 

[King-eL]

It's perfectly fine and you should not worry about. Some grow at the same rate some don't. Some will even shrunk not on the same rate.

 

[moonchild1970]

Cool. Thanks. Glad to know he is ok. Just looked a bit funny.