What causes curved spines and death

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Latrelle

Latrelle

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 7, 2012
241
0
16
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Had a tank going a year ago that had silver aro. Motoro ray and dats. All baby's. After 1 year everyone started to die off one by one. Fish never stopped eating but the aro and dats seemed to be bent about a week before they died. The only ones that lived were 2 pbass. Seemed like parasites maybe? Couldn't get them on to pellets. Just mysis and cut up shrimp. Vitamin deficiency maybe?


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Scoliosis is lack of vitamin C or amino acid protein so very possible that feeding shrimp only is the problem. Kois some times get bent spine from electrocution. Any current leak from your pump or heater?
 
I don't think so. But gonna check. Other fish inhabiting since and no issues. But there eating pellets. Just baby pbass. Kels and farmies. Bass weren't afected either back when it happened. I'm thinking the ones that only ate shrimp could have definitely had the deficiency. But I know guys that only feed rays shrimp for years with no issue and the ray died too. He was 1 year old like the rest in the tank. Thank you guys very much for the responses. Any more ideas


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There are several reasons this can happen, a vitimin deficiency is one cause and I suspect the issue here. The lack of sufficent quantities of vitamin C can cause scoliosis or cuvature of the spine. Raw shrimp also contains Thiaminase which is an enzyme that destroys thiamine. Thiamine, known as Vitamin B1 is important in the correct functioning and development of the central nervious system, proper growth and immunity among others. So the diet of these fish as stated in your original post could be, and is most likely the cause of what you were seeing. The fact that the pellet fed fish did not suffer from this would most likly eliminate a Sporozoan as the cause, which in advanced stages can cause skelatel deformation. However while I do think this was a dietary issue, the combination of a Sporozoan with a compromised immune system (while unlikly here) can't be entirly ruled out either. This is not to say shrimp is not good to feed it just shouldn't be the staple or sole source of nutrition. Shrimp is fine as part of a balanced diet and fed occasionally.

Going foward try inserting a small pellet into the shrimp as a way of delivering the vitamins to the fish. Depending on the size of the fish and the piece of shrimp being feed a small 1mm pellet or larger depending can be inserted into the shrimp. This is also a way of getting them used to pellets and helps converting the fishs diet. A vitamin block(s) can also be placed into the filter and will help deliver some vitamins to the fish.

This is and interesting artical about Vitamin C and the levels required for proper uttalization: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wILYDA&usg=AFQjCNG8wadDb79E6t3q4JOXOAqUX6nwkQ
 
In addition to what was stated above, injuries can also cause curved spines. Fish getting startled can easily get injured especially if the tank is covered.
 
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