Teugs external gills growing?

[DRteugelsi]

So, I am new to poly keeping so this is probably a normal thing and I'm just confused but I thought polys started to lose their external gills as they grew?

And this guys have grown about a 1/4 inch on his head over night.

Here are some pics.

 

[ShanerBock888]

How big is he? The age at which they lose their external gills varies by species and individual. My Senegals and Delhezis lost it before they were 2", but my Endlicheri and Teug had them until 4"+. Nothing to worry about

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Teug is acclimating to it's new environment. Sudden changes could of triggered or a multitude of things. It can be mood, lighting, or oxygenation levels. In the wild, it reduces the amount they go up for air. Reducing risks for predation. Some polys will keep their external gills even when larger.

 

[DRteugelsi]

Teug is acclimating to it's new environment. Sudden changes a multitude of things. It can be mood, lighting, oxygenation levels, or all. Some polys will keep their external gills even when larger.

No way really? I've never seen a large poly with external gills. But she's about 4.5 inches?? I've never raised a juvi poly before so I'm new to this haha. Maybe that's why she's been taking been long gulps/breaths and now it's kind of slowed down?

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Any other non poly tank mates? When a young poly feels threatened. The gills will either stay around longer or become pronounced.

 

[Burbotman]

No way really? I've never seen a large poly with external gills. But she's about 4.5 inches?? I've never raised a juvi poly before so I'm new to this haha. Maybe that's why she's been taking been long gulps/breaths and now it's kind of slowed down?

As said different polys will carry their gills longer then others. Very common for new small polys to "sprout" external gills when put into new tanks.

Here is an 11" fish with external gills

 

[DMD123]

My weeksii kept them forever

At 7" when it came in

At almost 13" you can still see little remnants of the external gills

 

[DRteugelsi]

Any other non poly tank mates? When a young poly feels threatened. The gills will either stay around longer or become pronounced.

Well that makes since because the seen was a complete jerk. But now that I've added the endlis and completly redid the scape it has stopped. But the EBA and Texas cichlids (don't worry not permanent tank mates and they're tiny) never bother her at all if anything she kinda nips at the Texas. And the EBA leaves everyone alone.

She actually killed a bn pleco a week or two ago. Last time I try that. But yeah she's pretty feisty now that she's settled in.

 

[Vancouver_98683]

7.8" wild specimen

 

[Polyaddict86]

This guy was about 7" and still have external gills