Jump to content


Algae on bowfin?


10 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_choupique_*

Guest_choupique_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 02:04 PM

Take a look at this guys head. This has been like this for a long time. The green patches, look like algae growing in the slime or skin. It is not bad looking in anyway, like a disease or problem. It mostly looks like a strange green coloration. Any Ideas?

Attached Images

  • hoganalgae.jpg


#2 Guest_Brooklamprey_*

Guest_Brooklamprey_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 02:12 PM

You know algae growing on a bowfins head would not suprise me but it is my gess that this is just patchy discoloration.

Very nice looking fish!!!

#3 Guest_fishlvr_*

Guest_fishlvr_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 04:43 PM

I agree with Brooklamprey, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is algae, since turtles, even the faster swimming ones like maps, sliders, and cooters, commonly have algae growing on the shell and even on the head.

BTW, nice bowfin! I would love to keep one of those, but right now a 55g is my limit, although I have talked my dad into letting me get some bowfin and gar for the 3000 gallon pond we're gonna build. :D

#4 Guest_Skipjack_*

Guest_Skipjack_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 08:29 PM

Way too symmetrical to be algae. Though we have seen algae growing on exposed bone from an old wound, on a buffalo.

#5 Guest_teleost_*

Guest_teleost_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 08:42 PM

Way too symmetrical to be algae. Though we have seen algae growing on exposed bone from an old wound, on a buffalo.


I couldn't help but think of the same thing Matt.

Posted Image

#6 Guest_Newt_*

Guest_Newt_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 09:18 PM

I've seen that on an old map turtle with a half-severed mandible.

#7 Guest_Nightwing_*

Guest_Nightwing_*
  • Guests

Posted 08 February 2008 - 09:40 PM

That just looks painfull...

#8 Guest_E_americanus_*

Guest_E_americanus_*
  • Guests

Posted 11 February 2008 - 01:04 PM

glad you brought up that pic from last summer uland, that was the first thing that came to my mind as well!

i think on the bowfin its just greenish patterning, not algae (at least given the pics). my bowfin is quite sedentary most of the time, and i've seen nothing of the sort growing on him...and i'd almost expect it since the only filtration in the tank is done by water changes and water sprite/lemna (the filter stopped working many months ago and the plants took over...if anything the bowfin seems to be "enjoying" this more).

the wounded buffalo was definitely algae, and strange that it was growing on the bone (i have some shots of that too); i've never seen algae growing on a fish in the home aquaria (specifically primitive fishes), but i suppose anything is possible--
--solomon

#9 Guest_nativeplanter_*

Guest_nativeplanter_*
  • Guests

Posted 11 February 2008 - 01:17 PM

I'd be shocked if it were algae. I think the slime coat and fish's immune system would prevent the algae from growing. If it were an algae, I'd say the fish is severely diseased.

The algae that we see on other animals always forms on a hard surface like a shell or bone). Skin just sloughs off to quickly.

#10 Guest_choupique_*

Guest_choupique_*
  • Guests

Posted 12 February 2008 - 03:03 AM

Maybe I should elaborate more. Its not growing "on him", it more appears like a green growth in the slime. The pattern that is evident in the picture follows areas that have sensory pores.

Kinda like how stains form in porcelin ( toilet, sink etc.) where the glass coating on the cermaic is etched. He is one of the healthiest fish I have, friendly and eating very well of all kinds of food. I don't worry about it, just thought I would share and see what people thought.

Thanks for all the opinions. I have four other bowfin and none of them show this pattern. Two of them are from the same batch, the other two are a year older.

Next I will post a picture of his tank mate, the malformed one. She has some odd shapes to her body, and survived an attack by that gator gar on the pond this past summer. Puncture wounds to the head, but no lasting damage. The abnormal growth of her was before this happened.

#11 Guest_iturnrocks_*

Guest_iturnrocks_*
  • Guests

Posted 15 February 2008 - 12:49 AM

To elaborate on algal laden fast turtles, here is a juvie river cooter, Pseudemys concinna, shortly after I caught it.

Posted Image



Reply to this topic



  


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users