What is this?

[Chef]

 

[Chef]

View attachment 86144View attachment 86145

I haven’t been able to find any pictures that look exactly like this. I don’t think it’s serious because he had something similar ages ago but I was assured by the breeder I got him from that it was just debris caught in the gills and it was nothing to worry about. It went away soon after and he’s had no issues up to now. I’ve noticed no change in behaviour or any other physical abnormalities and he actually dislodged one of the white things. They aren’t attached to the gills in the way it shows in the first picture but are instead like a string hanging from a tiny area that drags behind him. If anyone can actually give me an answer on what this is that would be great thanks.

 

[Chef]

Another update, similar to the last time, the strands are literally a quarter of the size they were and one is gone completely within a short period of time posting this

 

[Calgarycoppers]

It looks like debris getting caught on the gills

 

[Chef]

It’s completely gone now with no traces left behind today so I’d say that has to be the case so. It just seemed to be a larger bit of debris this time round so I was just wondering if it was anything to be worried about.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

Nope - I keep turkey baster around to direct water at gills if things look to be caught in the gills - 99.9% of the time its debris

 

[Chef]

Oh ok thanks for the tip I have various different sizes of Turkey basters for tank maintenance but I was afraid to get near the stuff in case I hurt him. I’m more at ease now that he’s definitely ok so thanks.