Spinal curvature in large fish

[Fish on Fire]

Is there any way to prevent the spinal curvature, or "hump back", that develops on older large fish like Jaguar cichlids, Oscars, Umbee, etc?

Is it just something that happens due to age? Or is it something that is influenced by some controllable factor like water quality (presence of nitrates), tank size, or diet?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[mattison187]

I always assumed it was due to tank size. I have seen tons of jags and dempseys over the years like that and havnt had a single speciman turn out like that. Im curious to hear some other peoples input on this also.

 

[duanes]

Let's say you put an adult managuense (could be any medium sized new world cichlid in a 75gal (48" l)), and its in the middle of the tank.
It can basicallly only move slightly more than 1 body length to the left, and 1 body length to the right, and if it turns around, it has a few extra inches on each side.
Kind of like a great dane in a bathroom, 24/7.
Although I've seen many like that turned into LFSs.
I have never had that curvature happen to my cichlids.
But I have been using 6 ft tanks, for any cichlid over 7" since the 80s.
And also did every other day water changes since that time.

 

[J. H.]

I have no idea, but many guppies develop the same issue when they get older. I'll see if I can find pictures. Even in 10g, a guppy's got more room than an arowana in a 700, so I don't think you can solve it with a bigger tank

 

[SharptoothBass]

Don't think its the tank size the old dc aquarium had a jag and a Dempsey with the hump back and that tank was huge. Most of the ones I've seen that have it are very old. I have never had it on my fish and I have never kept a cichlid in more that a 4 foot tank.

 

[J. H.]

I looked into it. (not my pics.) There seem to be several reasons that this can happen.
1) Fish TB. This is caused by poor water quality. it is a contagious disease that can even spread to humans. Good water quality can almost completely eliminate this issue.
2)Bad genetics. This a very real problem with fancy goldfish and other inbred things. (Yes, fancies are meant to look like that, but only so much)
3) Calcium deficiency. This may be why low kh/ph suffer more.
4)radiation/industrial waste. many rivers have this issue.
5) age. Sometimes it just happens.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...losis.html&usg=AFQjCNGkxxG2nMfnqgAxCVkyqIfThb
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...um&usg=AFQjCNHdARstnqVTkfajn9nvfZRK_nOKQQy0wQ

 

[GamerChick5567]

I've seen that happen to a few guppies too, mostly I think it's poor genetics after so much inbreeding, old age, or really heavy tails, seen a few like that while breeding them haha. I did have one curved spine male guppy like that from when it was born that was perfectly happy and lived a long 2 year life.

But for the larger cichlids I agree with duanes, it is probably related to tank size more than anything.

 

[duanes]

Deformed spines at birth are a common problem in fish, especially in species that have been line bred over generations. And if notices, should be culled, so as not to perpetuate the deformity.
But that is fairly easy to spot early on in life.
When a fish developed it over time, or when older, environment or disease seems to be the main cause..
And although water quality may be to blame, this usually goes hand in hand with tanks that are too small.
Most aquarists seem to accept 20ppm nitrates as reasonable, but compared to say, the average nitrate level of Lake Michigan, < 2ppm. An aquarium with 20ppm is very high, and may be chronically toxic.