Got some questions. Got a call from a LFS. Say they got in a 10-12 inch RTC on trade and am I interested for $40. Go to look at it and it's closer to 8 inches. Also has gill curl on one side and at the moment ick. Noted the eyes as cloudy and spotty, the tail not very bright and the belly more of a darker yellow than white as I've seen on others. Are these normal(yellow belly, dark tail), curable or reversible(gill curl, cloudy eyes). Is it worth taking or should I bypass?
RTC owners
- Thread starter dragonfish
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personally I would pass, from what I have read gill curl is very difficult to cure without doing surgery. but thats just my opinion
Thanks for a quick response. I'm leaning that way but I'm curious about the other issues as well.
You could try and save it but it's up to you. Me, I'd likely pass as I enjoyed growing mine from a baby 3" thing to big beast.
I fixed my RTC's gill curl in about a month or two with really good water conditions. Color issues will reverse pretty easy with good food, and ick should be easy with salt and upped temp. It may take some time, but RTCs seem to be pretty hardy and bounce back from illness pretty well.
As for the gillcurl if you don't reverse it, you dont actually have to remove it. They can live very well with it actually. Its just not as pretty as those without it. I don't know what RTC prices are like in your area, but around mine a 3" RTC costs about $50 right now, so $40 for a 8" would be a good deal.
I also don't know what kind of set up you have, or what future you have set up for an RTC... but if you have the means to house it, I think I would go for it.
As for the gillcurl if you don't reverse it, you dont actually have to remove it. They can live very well with it actually. Its just not as pretty as those without it. I don't know what RTC prices are like in your area, but around mine a 3" RTC costs about $50 right now, so $40 for a 8" would be a good deal.
I also don't know what kind of set up you have, or what future you have set up for an RTC... but if you have the means to house it, I think I would go for it.
Id pass i have a 20" clown knife with a funny gill at one side because the 40" RTC it was with in its old tank before it was brought into the fish store i work at tried to eat it and it was 2/3 in its mouth when the bloke pulled it out.
But ye id pass it sounds very very messed up, i know its difficult to see an animal like that which looks doomed and you want to help it but its best to leave it.
But ye id pass it sounds very very messed up, i know its difficult to see an animal like that which looks doomed and you want to help it but its best to leave it.
Maybe talk him down in price, in order to buy supplies and the right food? That way, youre still spending the money in his place. (food and chemicals are higher mark up anyway, so he would actually make out better in the long run)
I dunno... just an idea.
I dunno... just an idea.