I just got a Huge deal on a 5" RTC today. $17.00 that's it. !!! when i got him home and he settled into the tank, i noticed that he only has 4 barbels , 2 long ones on either side of the upper jaw and 2 slightly shorter on either side of the lower jaw. where are the 2 shortest ones that belong directly under his mouth? anybody seen this as a birth defect, or is there a subspecies lacking these barbels? they aren't deteriorated, his chin is completely smooth. his tail isn't red, basically it's just a cream/ tan/ pink color. any ideas? he's active , interested and curious and eating. :WTF:
RTC Birth Defect??
- Thread starter leviathon13
- Start date
I have seem many RTC that are missing barbels. If the barbel is damaged it will usually grow back, unless it is too close to the base. In your case it sounds like they were damaged close to the base of the barbel and didnt grow back. Also it usually takes some time for RTC to get a red tail, so it yours is only 5" long it is not supprising. The 2 I had got to 8" before I traded them and they didnt have a red tail yet.
I believe the missing barbels are a birth defect. Mine is exactly the same way. I have heard that they are raising RTCs in fish farms now so it's also possible that they may be raising them in tight quarters and teh barberls may be wearing off.
As for the red tail, mine is now about 11" and he is just starting to get the red tail. It's a nice salmon pink now. Feed your guy well and he'll reach that size quickly. I picked up my RTC three months ago at 3" and he is now 11" and still growing.
Good luck with your RTC. They are great.
As for the red tail, mine is now about 11" and he is just starting to get the red tail. It's a nice salmon pink now. Feed your guy well and he'll reach that size quickly. I picked up my RTC three months ago at 3" and he is now 11" and still growing.
Good luck with your RTC. They are great.
probly got picked off by another fish was he by himself but as long as he can find food it should be fine
the missing barbells could be a birth defect or it could also be a sign of early fin and tail rot. It strike quick and without warning. My baby rtc(had him for a week and a 1/2 now) was scratching the instant I put him in the tank. Now his barbells are almost gone, and today when I woke up his fins are rotted pretty far. He is only 2 1/2 inches so hopefully I can treat him before it's too late. Also I had 2 channel cats with no whiskers or fins from fin a tail rot that I rescued. Within 3 months all their fins and whiskers grew back. Only time will tell if he will ever grow them back. As for the tail, he's too small to have a red tail yet. Let him get a few more inches on him and it will start to change.
necrocanis;857670; said:
That really sucks man get him alone in a hospital tank Pimafix/melafix aquarium salt and some slime coat buffer with aloe... QUICK AHHHH
he is don't worry. He's still eating like a champ and breathing normally. He came in this way. I just wasn't sure when I first put him in weather it was the begginings of ich or fin and tail rot. Now I know. He's being treated accordingly. Plenty of aeriation, plenty of good quality blood worms, a little added salt, increased temps, and the meds. I hate meds but with a fish this small I don't see any other options.