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Less Than Perfect Barbel

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bgit	Less Than Perfect Barbel	Lead	[-]
Posts: 4660 (27/02/02 11:40) bob gill administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None OK, so I like to catch barbel big, medium and small and like to see them in tip-top condition. But what of the fish that are less than perfect and exhibit some sort of defect either caused by injury or growth defect. Fortunately these fish are not common but I was wondering what maybe the causes. Yesterday, I caught a barbel or around 7lbs with a growth the size of a meatball located where it's eye once was. The other eye was milky but otherwise the fish gave a good account of itself and appeared to be in good condition. What could cause this? I've also caught a fish with a small growth on it's dorsal fin and also caught the odd fish that has a bend in it's spine. Any ideas? Cheers Bob
Andy Davies	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#1	[-]
Posts: 2995 (27/02/02 12:19) andy davies administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I have caught a number of barbel with kinked or curved backs. Often it is quoted that these are male fish injured during the rigors of spawning. However I thought that males were generally smaller fish and these injured fish have usually been large. It is noticable in my fish tank that if a fish becomes ill the spine often curves so is this the case for barbel? Some of the 'kinky' fish have put up a fair scrap but the last one I caught in september just came straight to the surface and across into the net as others have before. I suspect that most probably these are older fish in decline.
Graham Elliott	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#2	[-]
Posts: 4258 (27/02/02 15:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thankfully not many Bob except the very rare mouth area growth ( left in hooks?) Just for info. as Dick and Ian will confirm, nearly half of our Thames weirpool fish this year have been blind.
Chris Plumb	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#3	[-]
Posts: 950 (27/02/02 17:16) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My biggest (as in longest!!) barbel had a very bad kink in it's back, fought like a bream and was very thin and emaciated. It looked in such a bad way I even contemplated knocking it on the head as it was obviously ill - couldn't bring myself to do it though. Thank-fully never had another like this. Have had the odd tench with this condition however - they didn't seem as affected as this b. however.... Chris "Study to be Quiet"
Roger the Rod	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#4	[-]
Posts: 381 (27/02/02 17:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Bob and guys, I have been told by those that know, that the deformed spine in Cyprinids is caused through some sort of virus. Chub are very prone to it apparently. Blindness I cannot comment on. Growths again have many causes. Mouth growths can be caused by hook wound infection. I have seen this a lot on carp. I guess if we were all to use an antiseptic as a matter of course, we might all be able to prevent some of these growths appearing. Who knows? Roger
Liamsm	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#5	[-]
Posts: 2211 (27/02/02 17:33) Banned User Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I seem to remember back in my fishkeeping days that this spine curve was quite a common condition. I cant remember the cause now, but it might have been a decease. It is well documented. I remember reading it, but it was so long ago I cant remember in my old age. Perhaps some modern fishkeepers have some literature on it. .....Liam
Dick	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#6	[-]
Posts: 2423 (27/02/02 18:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi All Blindness is often cased by a parasite that takes up residence inside the eye. Usually the eye just turns cloudy, and blindness ensues. This does not seem to affect normal behaviour in Barbel. Often interestingly, when blind in both eyes the fish turn very pale and silvery. Just like Barbel in flood water. There colour control being balanced by eyesight. There do seem to be a lot in that weir pool. Im not sure if blind fish go there for easy living. Just swim upstream, faced with an un navigable obstacle stay there. Or living there in what's a quiet and peaceful environment, not having to move much, are more susceptible to the parasite. The growth on Bobs fish, no doubt had some sort of infection at some point. Could be the parasites doing or external damage, or even hook damage. Kinky backs I think its likely a trait in older fish. I have repeat captures of an old fish. He ? she, more like is now going down in weight over the last three seasons. Perhaps its to do with muscle wastage in the lighter frame. Of course this could well be a parasite also, it kind of figures as I have only seen it in older fish, and maybe therefore more vulnerable. Spinal damage in earlier life, even as fry is possible, but its too common for that I think. Has anyone seen a small kinked back fish ? I say small as the size will not denote age. Cheers Dick
Andy Davies	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#7	[-]
Posts: 2995 (27/02/02 18:38) andy davies administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	One particular fish I caught was similar to that which you describe Dick, It weighed 9-10 but had the biggest head I have ever seen on a barbel, but below the 'kink' the fish was flabby and had virtually no muscle. Saw the fish on numerous occasions over the next season butnot since. Interesting fact is that you could spot this fella by moonlight because of the swimming action!
Dick	Re: Less Than Perfect Barbel	#8	[-]
Posts: 2423 (27/02/02 19:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hi Andy This fella has dropped right down to about that weight now, 9-02 this autumn I think. Four years ago he was an 11 in June ! And the kink not so distinct. Cheers Dick

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