Liosomadoras oncinus markings / something sinister?

[redfan]

Hi,

Noticed last night when feeding the jaguars that 2 of the 3 have what look like cuts just behind their gills and above the pectoral fins.

However am somewhat unsure as both display the marks on either side of their heads and they appear to be almost identical on each side of head (obviously each jaguar has different looking markings / cut but for each fish the marks are identical on each side of the head).

Just trying to figure out if they are just markings and therefore no reason to worry. It is strange how each of the 2 Jaguars has the almost same marking / cut on either side of the head. Which does lead me to think its a marking thing.

Have included two videos (of only one of the Jaguars that is happy out with lights on), the first is a slow motion video. You should hopefully see what I am referring to. Otherwise they are fine and all seems well in the tank.

Also, given I have recently asked about feeding etc, does this guy look healthy and well fed to you guys?

Cheers

[Marc van Arc]

I think I see what you mean. It looks like the mucus layer below the neck region is a bit damaged. On the other hand, it may be just the skull bone that makes it look as if you see a circle. See also

Liosomadoras oncinus

, picture 4, where you can see this too.
It seems well fed and okay to me - from the video. Keep a close watch and let us know when things change.

Btw: these neons may last for a bit, but sooner or later they will vanish. I hope you don't mind that.

[redfan]

Thanks for the reply Marc

It is a bit of a tricky one. I only really noticed it this last evening but it is odd how the marks seem almost identical on either side of the fish.

If it is the mucus layer, what could be the cause / treatment?

I will be keeping an eye on it but as mentioned they all seem really fine and eating readily. Is there anything I should be looking for with this?

As for the neons, it is my intention to move them from the tank soon lol.

Thanks again

[Marc van Arc]

If it is the mucus layer, what could be the cause / treatment?

I will be keeping an eye on it but as mentioned they all seem really fine and eating readily. Is there anything I should be looking for with this?

First off, I doubt that there is something wrong. I see (at least) one happy specimen, so indeed keep an eye on it but don't start medicating as I doubt very much this is going to be necessary (again, from what I see on the video....).

The mucus layer of any fish will be boosted by adding some sea salt to the tank. If it will be necessary at any point in future, salt (without iodine!) is a good and cheap remedy.

But again, don't do anything now. Just keep your eyes open.

Btw: you're in Boston Spa, right? Maybe you could contact CoryWally; he's a very helpful guy.

[redfan]

Thanks for the reply Marc

I will as you say just keep an eye on it, I have just fed them and again they are eating very well and I can assure you the other two are in equally good condition.

As for where I am, it's not Boston Spa but Boston, Lincolnshire. You think its worth me sending a pm to CoryWally?

If I can trouble you, something I have been wondering about with bottom feeders. I as above have just fed the Jaguars a sachet of bloodworm mix, few catfish pellets with a broken up wafer (they did not get much yesterday and now they sure have full stomachs lol). What I ponder is, will these guys be also eating gravel from the base where all there food sits? If so do bottom feeders process it without issue? (it's a fine gravel / sand mix).

Many thanks for your time

[Marc van Arc]

As for where I am, it's not Boston Spa but Boston, Lincolnshire. You think its worth me sending a pm to CoryWally?

What I ponder is, will these guys be also eating gravel from the base where all there food sits? If so do bottom feeders process it without issue? (it's a fine gravel / sand mix).

In that case I don't think a PM to CoryWally is very useful; I actually thought that if you both live in the same town, it would be wise to invite him in to have a look. That not being the case, PM-ing him is a wise as PM-ing me for instance.

Although greedy feeders, auchenipterids don't eat the sand on which their food sits ime.
And when that does happen occasionally, they get rid of it through the gills. And if a few sand grains would enter the stomach, that would cause no problems afaics.

Hope this answers your questions.

[Viktor Jarikov]

if they swallow a lot of gravel, relative to their stomach/intestine size, they may not be able to pass it and will die; this however has a very small chance of happening even with the hungriest cats, while yours are well fed and doing good

my bigger cats swallow on occasion some gravel and then pass it like nothing happened; one of my RTCs swallowed a plastic piece he could not pass, so, I guess, instinctively, he swallowed a bunch of gravel trying to push it through. didn't work, as these are the results of post-mortum expertise.

[sidguppy]

the scratches can also be caused by quarreling; Liosomadoras is boisterous and yes it does stick its pectoral spines right in the side of any other fish that happens to be in its favorite hiding spot.

they'll do that to each other too

it's not real aggression, but it is a form of territorial behavior.

if you want to avoid that, make sure that there are more hiding places than catfish and that all hiding places are well suitable for liosomadoras

if they have a resting place which they don't have to share, chances are very small they scratch each other.

[redfan]

Marc - Indeed regarding pm'ing CoryWally, thanks for your continued input

Viktor - My main concern was that when putting in catfish pellets they are quite small and probably about the size of the gravel, hence curious as to whether they would also be picking up gravel along with pellets. TBH I only really add 3 or 4 pellets in addition to there usual food.

Sidguppy - I had read that about the Liosomadoras and the possible territorial behaviour. The tank has at least 2 additional hiding places that are unused (most of my base is covered in driftwood).

One of the Jaguars seems to alternate between his usual hiding place and another adjoining piece of wood that has always been unoccupied.

Also when observing them at night they seem to swim around happily together and the only real contact is when they occasional pass a bit close to each other.

Thanks for the replies, I will update on this tomorrow.
Cheers all, very much appreciated.