Pictus catfish broken barbel

janusz · 10-03-2011, 04:06 AM

Hi
I noticed that my pictus has broken barbel. It is broken in about half way and lower portion is dangling. Should I catch him and cut off the dangling part or to leave him as is?
thanks

Pigeonfish · 10-03-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janusz

Hi
I noticed that my pictus has broken barbel. It is broken in about half way and lower portion is dangling. Should I catch him and cut off the dangling part or to leave him as is?
thanks

Leave him be... Just keep up with the water params (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) to make sure it heals.

Any idea how it happend? Whats your tank size, substrate, tank mates?

jrman83 · 10-03-2011, 07:25 AM

I would leave it. Is your substrate smooth enough?

susankat · 10-03-2011, 07:49 AM

Keep up with water changes to make sure no infection sets in. If you have smooth gravel or sand it should grow back. If it was caused by another fish you might want to put it into quarantine till it heals.

Never cut them off, they need the barbels to help in finding food.

joevw007 · 10-03-2011, 08:54 AM

all of my corys are super susceptible to fungus growth in any cuts they get, so I would suggest having a bottle of Pimafix and Melafix ready to go if you see any clear "hairs" growing on his open wound. definitely leave him alone and dont mess with his barb, and +1 for more water changes. good luck!

holly12 · 10-03-2011, 08:17 PM

EW Joe! What are the 'clear hairs?' Gross!

My Corys all lost their barbels, or most of them, and some of them have 'white' lips... but they've been that way for a few weeks now and there's been no change.

I keep the gravel clean and the substrate is smooth gravel mixed with Eco-complete. (I researched a lot before getting Corys and all sites/books said this substrate will be fine.)

No one's picking on them...... it's weird.

susankat · 10-03-2011, 08:59 PM

Eco isn't smooth, some will have luck with them and some not. Thats why I always advise sand substrate for cories.

10-03-2011, 04:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
janusz Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 20 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Pictus catfish broken barbel Hi I noticed that my pictus has broken barbel. It is broken in about half way and lower portion is dangling. Should I catch him and cut off the dangling part or to leave him as is? thanks __________________ janusz 29gal

10-03-2011, 07:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Pictus catfish broken barbel I would leave it. Is your substrate smooth enough? Last edited by jrman83 : 10-03-2011 at 09:03 AM.

10-03-2011, 07:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,419 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,617 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Pictus catfish broken barbel Keep up with water changes to make sure no infection sets in. If you have smooth gravel or sand it should grow back. If it was caused by another fish you might want to put it into quarantine till it heals. Never cut them off, they need the barbels to help in finding food. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

10-03-2011, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
joevw007 who... me? Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 239 Name: Joe Hemler Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 13 Times Said "Thanks" 28 Times Was Thanked 30 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Pictus catfish broken barbel all of my corys are super susceptible to fungus growth in any cuts they get, so I would suggest having a bottle of Pimafix and Melafix ready to go if you see any clear "hairs" growing on his open wound. definitely leave him alone and dont mess with his barb, and +1 for more water changes. good luck!

10-03-2011, 08:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Pictus catfish broken barbel EW Joe! What are the 'clear hairs?' Gross! My Corys all lost their barbels, or most of them, and some of them have 'white' lips... but they've been that way for a few weeks now and there's been no change. I keep the gravel clean and the substrate is smooth gravel mixed with Eco-complete. (I researched a lot before getting Corys and all sites/books said this substrate will be fine.) No one's picking on them...... it's weird. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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10-03-2011, 08:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,419 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,617 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: Pictus catfish broken barbel Eco isn't smooth, some will have luck with them and some not. Thats why I always advise sand substrate for cories. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

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