I don't know the history of the fish but my guess is bad water and a 10-20gal tank, but my fish store buddy called me and told me he just got a RTC and royal clown knife that some guy did not want anymore. When I got there I noticed the RTC had gills that curled. Has anyone ever messed with it. He's about 8" long and the RCK is about 10". I put them in the 125gal with aquarium salt to try to get the stress levels down. Are they going to stay curled or will they go straight? Do they usually come through it ok? I don't no anything about gill curl except what I already looked up on the computer, and I trust you all more with info being you all have been there and done that (so to speak).
Rescued RTC With Gill Curl
- Thread starter Catfisher
- Start date
Never really seen that much info on the gill curls. From what I learned by research, gill curls happen when the fish is kept in a small tank/little oxygen/high nitrates/tankmates. If it is diagnosed early, lots of water changes, salt and oxygenation will cure it. But if the actual hard plate curls, then surgery probably the only option.
Make sure your oxygen levels are high, as the gill curl may hinder fish respiration, so the high oxygen levels are crucial for you RTC.
Make sure your oxygen levels are high, as the gill curl may hinder fish respiration, so the high oxygen levels are crucial for you RTC.
RTC gil curl happens alot. People dont properly take care of them... I feel really bad for the whole species.
Yeah
You always see people bringing RTCs home into their 55s, sometimes claim they will get a bigger tank, and never follow through. They just buy the fish because it looks cute at the store as a 2". The employees always fail to warn to customers.
I've seen pacus and balas sold at my lfs, and most will end up in 55 or 20 gallons, even 10 gallon tanks (for the balas at least). Yet they grow to such large sizes.
Let's not forget the one of the most common fish seen today, the common pleco, which can grow huge, being sold into cramped tanks. Ditto with sailfins.
I think the staff need to educate the customers more, who are buying on impulse, and not let people buy these monsters.
But that sadly may never happen, that's why I feel sad for all those RTCs and other monsters kept in small tanks out there.
Well it seems that he was fed only flakes because he did not look at the pellets but he went to town on the flakes. He doesn't know to eat live food (gut loaded feeder goldfish and crawfish). But with some coaching he has found quite a liking for my homemade beefhart recipe. hopefully thats a good sign for a good future!!!