Barbel erosion

[Anike]

I have had problems with a couple of my cories exhibiting barbel erosion after changing my gravel from plain gravel to Eco-Complete. I started off with regular gravel for about 5 months before deciding to get serious with plants. I kind of doubt that the problem has to do with Eco-Complete but that is a part of the equation. I have four smaller panda cories that are about 1" and one of them died today. It had worn down its barbels to absolutely nothing. The other panda cories boast good barbels. I have four other cories; they are larger and have lived in the tank a good 6 months before the pandas arrived. These older cories have good barbels except for one; one side of his barbels is fine but the other side has almost completely eroded to a stub. I do water changes weekly and I drop in a sinking wafer every night after the lights go out. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I don't know how to fix the problem. Please help.

 

[FroggyFox]

I'm not sure what eco complete looks like, but I remember clothahump posting that cories are really susceptible to their barbels getting hurt because of the bacteria in the gravel.

Do you ever do gravel vac? I know people with plants dont do it as much...

How often do you do water changes? What size tank? How many other fish in the tank etc...

Does anyone with plants have cories with this problem? I'd be interested to hear.

 

[garyroland]

Any type of sharp sand-like substrate will wear down barbels...

Fine sand-like substrate is by its very nature abrasive, similar to sandpaper.

A return to smooth substrate will alleviate the problem.

Some others have claimed high nitrates will cause the problem but I would challenge that possibility.

--garyroland.

 

[Killer_Guppy]

I have regular gravel in my tank and one of my Juli cories is exhibiting barbel erosion as well. Oddly enough, the albino I bought at the same time still has full barbels. He still seems to be eating quite well (he's the fattest cory in the tank), but I do worry a bit about him.