Something Wrong With My Castexi's Spiracles (Gills)

[JohnG]

Yesterday I noticed some white and red around the spiracles of one of my castexi. She is acting normal, eats like a pig. So far noone else in the tank has been effected by this.

Water is always between 78 and 79, PH around 8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrates around 40-60ppm (little higher than i'd like).

Just wanted to see if anyone recognizes this, otherwise going to give it a few more days and if there isn't improvement probably put a little salt in.

 

[Tor-Eriik]

I belive nipping from the small once. Have had this happen here aswell, it was a weird place, but it happend. I think i remember another thread about this happening to long ago aswell.. Was looking at my male motoro trying to mate with my female yesterday, he was biting her, and she tryed to stab him with her stinger, and his eyes went into the body, not to be hit, gues its normal, but i havent seen it before

 

[scott s]

That is one good looking Castexi. Cant really see what your talkin about on my computer. Any new addition to the pond that could have brought in a parasite? I would think maybe getting bit also. My males (only one mature) are all over my female Motoro. Only one doing any real damage is the mature Motoro guess the others are playing monkey see monkey do...
Nitrates going up...no auto drip? I got lazy and didnt do a WC for two weeks (did it tonite). Noticed scratches/abrasions on the underside of one of my rays seemed to be red and irritated. Normally scratches never stay red more than a day. Probably due to water quality. Did add a little salt for the female getting chewed on. Hoping to set up an auto drip soon.

 

[JohnG]

Yeah I thought it might just be biting, probably just being paranoid.

I have seen the leave me alone or I will stab you in the eye mating behavior before, with my motoro males that where far to persistent.

Auto water changes where not keeping up, to many rays, just increased them so should bring the nitrates down.

There are 5 new wild caught henlei that have been added to the pond, I quarantined them all for a month and they are all healthy so I don't think its anything they brought in.

 

[vamptrev]

I would say its prob some ray pouncing on her sucking and biting on her spiracle. My rays are super aggressive and do it all the time. U might need to watch who is doing the damage and seperate for a little so she can heal

Hey bro we are about due for an update on your insane collection of rays!

 

[scott s]

Just sitting here thinking about your nitrates creeping up...do you have Pothos as part of your sump system?

 

[JohnG]

No the only plants i have in the system are duckweed. Was thinking about making the duckweed tank a full planted aquarium. Nitrates are slowly making there way down now with the increased water changes. Its the 5 new henlei that caused them to start going up, the water changes where keeping up with it fine before i added them.

Castexi seems to be healing up good, redness is almost gone, it must have just been a bite from another ray.

 

[Just Toby]

My Nitrates barely read now, I am a year into the hma drip doing 30gals per day over a 2 hr period and the pothos are growing well.

 

[Fanlie]

Try using Bio-Cubes or denitrate! I have never before trying rays. maybe one days i want rays
I use nitraguard. its the one best what i before see.