RTC Gill Curl Advice
- Thread starter Mayo
- Start date
I have heard it causes breathing difficulty as they grow and makes them very prone to gill infections that ultimately kill them
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Maybe I am wrong then, luckily I managed to cure mine very easily but when researching it I read a lot about breathing difficulty (especially in larger fish), gill damage and infection due to them being exposed. Like I said tho this is just stuff I have seen on the web and not 1st hand experience so I wouldn't swear by it
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I think both of our points of view have their value and the OP and us can research the topic further and keep our minds open 
Logically, yes, I don't understand how it cannot have some effect as the water is not drawn across the gill as efficiently as when the flap was functioning right. But all this is a very crude, superficial thinking.
Logically, yes, I don't understand how it cannot have some effect as the water is not drawn across the gill as efficiently as when the flap was functioning right. But all this is a very crude, superficial thinking.
Thanks Guys. It is very good to engage in this conversation. I am understanding that this is caused by nitrates in water (correct me if I am wrong). I am used to keping smaller fish in "balanced" tanks with plants and so on. I read that it is common with bigger fish. Do you think metabolism in big fish causes nitrate spikes? If there are going to be spikes, then plants will not be able to control the levels, I would think. Any light on how this? How do you guys monitor nitrate levels (if that is the case)?
The standard tests are ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH. Liquid tests are highly recommended, like the API f/w Master kit ~$20 in the US, 100-500 tests.
Nitrates are controlled by water changes (in the absence of plants). Nitrates do not usually spike. They slowly accumulate when the WC's don't keep up with the production. Lots more can be said, but this thread is not the place, I'd think. Better start your own thread if want to continue.
I am not aware of what exact toxin causes the gill curl (other than heredics). I thought if anything, it is ammonia and nitrite, long-term. Surely high nitrates do not help any but I'd think it is just a complicating factor, not the cause.
Nitrates are controlled by water changes (in the absence of plants). Nitrates do not usually spike. They slowly accumulate when the WC's don't keep up with the production. Lots more can be said, but this thread is not the place, I'd think. Better start your own thread if want to continue.
I am not aware of what exact toxin causes the gill curl (other than heredics). I thought if anything, it is ammonia and nitrite, long-term. Surely high nitrates do not help any but I'd think it is just a complicating factor, not the cause.
Personally I never experienced gill curl with any of my cats. However, IME I've seen one of my uncles fish with one of the worst case of gill curl I've ever seen in person. I'm not sure if this is will be the same for all fishes or if his was just special or what. But I'll share his experience and what I saw. My uncle had a 24+" jar that had developed gill curl. It was horrible really real bad. It didn't have any negative health affects like breathing problems though. He kept up on wc's and everytime I went to his place it seemed to be worst. Then one day he called me up to go take a look at his jar. When I got there it looked smaller like it was rotting away. Sure enough after a few days it looked like someone took a scissor to it. We figured nothing else we could do we were disheartened and my uncle was sadden. Thinking it would stay like that for the rest of the fishes life. The jar seemed fine though ate like usually and went about his business as usual. I went over to his house about 3-4 times a week afterwards. I don't remember clearly when but we started to notice it slowly growing back over a period of time. Long story short it grew back and looked as good as new. I'm sure the water change helped. So constant water change and pristine water quality is a must.
