Loaches Online Forum

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post, so I'll keep it short and sweet.

I just got some clown loaches and one of the little guys seems to be missing his gill covers.

Is this just a deformity, and if so is there anything special I need to do for him throughout his life?

He seems to be blissfully eating and going on as a loach should, and has no signs of disease or injury.

Thanks,

Murphy

pics would be great, Murph. what size are they and where did you get them?

I know that due to inbreeding some strains of angelfish are often born missing a gill plate or even both. The fish will function normally but it is a deformity that is irreversible thus, they are usually culled.

Hey Shari2,

They're just little....like less than 2cm/half inch.

I could try and get a pic, but it might be an impossible task being that he's so small and fast.

I have seen a 5" specimen which was missing a gill cover on one side, and this loach had no obvious problems with this. I would just advise being very careful what decor you put in the tank with yours, make sure there is nothing sharp, such as lava rock, or anything pointed it could snag it on.

Emma

I have a shibunkin in one of my ponds with a missing gill cover and it has no problems at all. It is growing well and none of the other fish seem to pick on it because of the deformity.

Cheers