Growing juvenile color change question.

[Brittrdh]

Hi all! Love all the pictures and info on here!
I have had my 1st ever Featherfin squeaker for about a month now. He/she is eating well and is very active in the morning and evenings, but hides in hollow fake driftwood during the day. (I know that is normal bc it's nocturnal). He/she is growing quickly. My question is...
Is it normal for their nose and barbel area to change color as they grow? I know their pattern/color changes, but I just want to make sure it's not having any trouble that I'm not aware of. Area changing to a very very light brown on tips of barbels and side of nose area (one side much more so that the other). Is this normal? Possible injury from squeezing in and out of driftwood? Hopefully not disease! Any help would be much appreciated! (Did the best I could for clear photos. He/she is very fast!)
Thank you!
Brittani

[Birger]

These do go through a large color change from juvenile to adult patterns. Also in the pictures it looks like the nose area has been damaged slightly maybe from rocks etc. I do not know what its tank mates are.

A suggestion from me is to make sure you feed some vegetable matter on a regular basis, either fresh such as zuchini slice or green beans or at least some spirulina based flake food. This should I think minimize the chances of ever developing LLE. A forum search for LLE will give you some explanation, eupterus seem to be susceptible to this.

An example: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... LE#p286724

Birger

[Brittrdh]

Thank you for the quick response and helpful info Birger! The tank mates are: 2 juvenile gold gourami, 2 juvenile angles, and 1 full grown sunfish (and 3 feeder guppies the sunfish decided not to eat). None of the tank mates have shown any aggression toward the Featherfin. I do feed frozen emerald entree which has spinach, spirulina, lettuces and tons of vitamins in it, but I will happily add some zucchini if that will help! So, you don't think it is anything I should be overly concerned about?

[Birger]

So, you don't think it is anything I should be overly concerned about?

No I do not unless it continues to get worse. of course....looking closely now it does look like someone has been nipping at the barbels...but if you have only had it a month what you are seeing could be new growth as the maxillary barbels look short to me.it may have been damaged in shipping.

Birger