|
Richard,
You know, the flared gill deformity occurs in a lot of different cultivated fish. Even marine species. A physiology professor at Univ. of Hawaii says he has some evidence that flared gill is caused by a vitamin C deficiency. I thought he was crazy because green water is full of vitamin C. Then he explained that environmental conditions can impact a fish's ability to take up vitamins and minerals, synthesize amino acids, and perform a variety of other bodily functions. When everything is linked and interacting like that, it becomes difficult to sort it all out. That may be why there are so many different opinions/theories about the cause of these deformities. I have also read that flared gill is caused by high nitrate levels.
The only thing I know for sure is that when I raise goldfish to the first cull with clear water, lots of water exchange and careful cleaning there is never a flared gill or camel face deformity - not one. Unfortunately, it's tedious to keep them adequately fed under these conditions (versus letting them graze in a much richer green water environment).
-steveh op
|