Warning to H.armatus owners

[mshuangchao]

Autospy report on Hydrolycus armatus​

1. Aim Of Autospy: To understand the cause of the sudden death of a H.armatus.​

2. Information On The Deceased Fish​

2.1 Species: Hydrolycus armatus
Length: 45cm (approx.)
Age: 2 yrs (approx.)​

2.2 Symptoms Prior Death: No abnormal behavior was observed the night before the fish's death. Weather loaches were present in the tank as they were intended as feeders.​

3. The Autospy​

3.1 Method Of Autospy: The head of the fish was removed. Gills were checked for parasites or other abnormalties. The abdomen was opened up to reveal the internal organs.​

3.2 Brief Analysis: The external feature of the fish showed no abnormalties apart from a subtly bloated abdomen which is normal after feedings. The gills were of normal color and also showed no abnormalties. The swim bladder of the fish was full of gas, typical of a dead fish. A hole with a diameter of around 0.5cm was found in the stomach, along with a half digested weather loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) in it. The inner abdominal cavity was pale yellow due to the digestive fluids released from the hole. Another weather loach was found inside the abdominal cavity, this one had not been digested.​

4.1 Conclusion: The analysis shows that a weather loach that was swallowed alive somehow managed to penetrate the fish's stomach, causing digestive fluids to escape the stomach and enter the inner abdominal cavity. This caused major damage to the fish's other inner organs and subsequently death.​

 

[mshuangchao]

Lesson learnt, don't feed loaches to armatus, they are very hardy and have the potential to penetrate the stomach. I'm down to 3 armatus.

 

[xander]

thanks for the info, really helps others who keep this mysterious fish.

 

[flamenco-t]

What part of the loaced that puncture the abdomen of the armatus ?

I feed smelt all the time,bone and all...this is very concerning.

stan

 

[daimion]

That is really useful! Thanks a lot man. I'm gonna make a guess that it's the spine that's puncture the stomach?

That also backs up why my Armatus has avoided eating the Cichlids, unless absolutely out of desperation - when nothing else is available.

I think the best thing to do is avoid feeding anything spiny.
Could also be best to avoid small fishes that they'd just swallow? When mine takes the bigger sized fish, he always grabs onto them with his teeth till they stop struggling (dead), before swallowing them. I'm sure this isn't a guranteed method, so anything spiny should be avoided as well.

Just my opinions based on my one and only Armatus' behaviour.

NOTE TO SELF: Remove the last 2 Cichlids from the tank.

 

[sashimimaster]

I noticed that my Scombs used to always swallow their meals head first. I'm sure that's to prevent any problems with spines.

So I think that's another good reason to feed non live.

 

[mshuangchao]

What part of the loaced that puncture the abdomen of the armatus ?

I feed smelt all the time,bone and all...this is very concerning.

stan

The hole was most likely caused by the loach as it struggled in it's stomach, it was probably still very alive then. I don't think spines were the culprit in this particular case.

 

[mshuangchao]

That is really useful! Thanks a lot man. I'm gonna make a guess that it's the spine that's puncture the stomach?

That also backs up why my Armatus has avoided eating the Cichlids, unless absolutely out of desperation - when nothing else is available.

I think the best thing to do is avoid feeding anything spiny.
Could also be best to avoid small fishes that they'd just swallow? When mine takes the bigger sized fish, he always grabs onto them with his teeth till they stop struggling (dead), before swallowing them. I'm sure this isn't a guranteed method, so anything spiny should be avoided as well.

Just my opinions based on my one and only Armatus' behaviour.

NOTE TO SELF: Remove the last 2 Cichlids from the tank.

No need to thank me! As I said above, I don't think that spines are to blame. Armatus eat all sorts of SA cichlids in their natural habitat. The thing is, loaches are very hardy fish and can stay alive for a much longer period of time after serious injury. Plus they have the ability to dig into substrate, which they will use when in the stomach of another fish. That's to say, most cichlids are ok to be used as feeders, but loaches are definitely a no go.

 

[daimion]

Well, that's good to hear then. Still can't figure out why he avoids them then. The cichlids I mean.

So apart from loaches, are anything else considered "hardy" fish and should be avoided?

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

That's one nasty loach

Armatus: "I just eaten you"
Eaten Loach: "You're going down with me"
Owner: "........ whatever it is guys, take it outside"