Deformed Cherry Barb

I just noticed the other day that one of my four male cherry barbs is looking a bit thin and deformed. Can anything be done or should I just euthanize the poor little guy? He's still eating and swimming - just doesn't look "right" in comparison to the other ones.

Certainly looks off doesnt he Mary. I wouldnt euthenaise him though if he is still eating and swimming ok, just my opinion though

If he's swimming and eating I would leave him for a bit too Mary. I think in the end he's going to get worse and you may well have to do it in the end, but I'd give him a bit and see how he goes.

Those were my thoughts too, given that he is still motoring along. I'm wondering if I should maybe quarantine him though and treat him with something? It might be worth a shot anyway...

What would you treat him for Mary - some sort of internal parasite/bacteria??

Yep. I was thinking of using either Myxazin or eSHa 2000 together with a fish wormer but I'm going to research his condition a bit further first. IME sometimes if a fragile fish is moved to a Q tank, the stress can kill them anyway and I don't want that to happen.

The Cherry Barb deteriorated last night so I moved him into the Q tank after I'd moved the male Honey Gourami into the 90L tank. I'm treating him with Interpet No. 9 as that seemed the most appropriate medicine but I don't hold out much hope for the poor little guy.

Oh thats a shame Mary. Wave the Clove Oil at the tank and see what happens

Meanie! :lol:

Hope he improves - honestly! :lol:

Too late! You jinxed him...

Awww he looks like a runt

RIP little Cherry Barb.

Oh, sorry Mary, thats bad luck.

Thats life it weans out the weak and crushes them!

I got a gammy Zebra too - I cant take a photo atm my camera phone sucks big time I am trying but all i see is smears where the fish are supposed to be!

GeordieDave wrote:

Thats life it weans out the weak and crushes them!

Well the more fish I lose, the more I've convinced that's actually the case. Survival of the fittest indeed.

Oh thats a shame about your little fish Mary, was it the male and will you have to replace him do you think?

GeordieDave wrote:

I got a gammy Zebra too

Well you know the Gammy zebra it may soon be taking a ride on the porcelain express, its just sat up in the corner of the tank looking very sad. All the othes are fine. Its small skinny looking compared to the others

Water stats are 0 - 0.

Weak fish

dont flush it down the loo mate - considered a no-no. chuck it in the bin when its dead.

but it will smell and rot?

it wasnt dead when I left but I expect it to be when i go back home in Sunday

GD, Just wrap it in some loo roll, and put it in your dustbin. It wont smell any more than any other bit of food etc that goes in there.

put it in the soil in your garden, it's good for the plants - all that omega 3!

so why not the toilet express?

it int dead yet - well not that I know of

See my thread in General FW Topics, GD...

Dead fish can transmit disease to native species...