lateral line erosion
- Thread starter Franks2yanks
- Start date
The lateral line is a sensory system common in fish that allows them to supplement visual perception by sensing pressure and electrostatic charges found in the water they live in. This is an effective adaptation for survival because the density of water allows it to convey pressure and electric charges over relatively long distances. When you tap on the sides of a fish tank, it is stressful because of the pressures exerted on the lateral line system and one can see their reactive survival behaviors as they dart around and hide. Fish can also use the lateral line system to locate prey as they 'feel' their movements.
The lateral line has branching neurons that can extend down the sides of the fish and also around the head area, sometimes up and over the eye sockets. Pitting and 'holes' in these regions is indicative of HLLE, (erosion) and can be caused by a host of factors such as environmental stressors, disease, poor diet etc. You will see holes and lost scales along the midline and face region of a fish affected with HLLE. There are meds that exist for the condition, but often the best remedy is adjusting the feeding regimen for the fish or cleaning up the bad water parameters.
Not bad for a guy who doesn't keep marine fish eh?
Ive seen this in keeping freshwater oscars, IMO the #1 fish to see HLLE in when you visit any common pet store. Just ask to see their oscar tank and you'll see HLLE>
Good luck, I hope you dont have this in your tank.
Brandon
The lateral line has branching neurons that can extend down the sides of the fish and also around the head area, sometimes up and over the eye sockets. Pitting and 'holes' in these regions is indicative of HLLE, (erosion) and can be caused by a host of factors such as environmental stressors, disease, poor diet etc. You will see holes and lost scales along the midline and face region of a fish affected with HLLE. There are meds that exist for the condition, but often the best remedy is adjusting the feeding regimen for the fish or cleaning up the bad water parameters.
Not bad for a guy who doesn't keep marine fish eh?
Ive seen this in keeping freshwater oscars, IMO the #1 fish to see HLLE in when you visit any common pet store. Just ask to see their oscar tank and you'll see HLLE>
Good luck, I hope you dont have this in your tank.
Brandon
Very common in tangs and angelfish. There are a lot of cures out there that may or may not work. In my experience, a large tank with plenty of hiding places and a good diet is all that is needed. Some say a grounding probe is necessary to prevent HLLE, but I've never seen any real evidence to support this.
Well, you can "measure" the way I discovered stray voltage in my first salt tank--standing by the microwave (grounded) with my hand in my tank, and brushed against the metal body of the micro and zzzaaapp! (It was actually a rather pleasurable tingling.) The bit about stray voltage tends to make some sense when you consider what the lateral line does as a sensory organ, however, too many cases are found without the "expected" voltage. Let's see if I can show a piccie of some HLLE here...NOPE! I have no idea how to convert a .bmp to a .jpg/.jpeg file..other than just change the extension...but it couldn't be THAT easy. :roll:
Anyway, it actually looks eroded (thus the moniker), as though the flesh in that area is eaten away. I see it much less often than I used to, thanks in large part to the strides made by hobbyists and experts regarding nutrition. Making good, regular use of Selcon or other good quality high-HUFA supplement goes a long way towards prevention of this and many other disorders.
Anyway, it actually looks eroded (thus the moniker), as though the flesh in that area is eaten away. I see it much less often than I used to, thanks in large part to the strides made by hobbyists and experts regarding nutrition. Making good, regular use of Selcon or other good quality high-HUFA supplement goes a long way towards prevention of this and many other disorders.
The way to measure "stray voltage" with your voltmeter is to set it on "AC Voltage", then place one probe in the water and the other on a ground. The current will pass through the meter on the way to ground.
I am very skeptical of stray voltage causing "Head & Lateral Line Erosion" (HLLE). I've never seen it cured by grounding a tank, and I've even seen cases where fish didn't develop HLLE until after the tank was grounded. But I think they are unrelated. EmilyB seems to have had a different experience.
FWIW, freshwater "hole-in-the-head" disease that affects the cichlids (primarily) is unrelated to saltwater HLLE. The former is caused by a known protozoan called Hexamita, while the latter has no definitive cause but with various imperfect hypotheses. Unlike the freshwater disease, a pathogen doesn't seem to cause HLLE.
I am very skeptical of stray voltage causing "Head & Lateral Line Erosion" (HLLE). I've never seen it cured by grounding a tank, and I've even seen cases where fish didn't develop HLLE until after the tank was grounded. But I think they are unrelated. EmilyB seems to have had a different experience.
FWIW, freshwater "hole-in-the-head" disease that affects the cichlids (primarily) is unrelated to saltwater HLLE. The former is caused by a known protozoan called Hexamita, while the latter has no definitive cause but with various imperfect hypotheses. Unlike the freshwater disease, a pathogen doesn't seem to cause HLLE.
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