hunchback alligator pipefish

[jiriki]

I have an alligator pipefish which no longer straightens itself out. The midsection seems to be stuck. She still eats like a pig and still races half way across the tank when the feeding tube enters the water. She also still hunts around for pods.

Other than the obvious crook in her body, she seems fine. What could be causing the hunchback?

 

[Elysia]

I want to start by saying that I have no idea if this would be the case w/ your pipe or not... in fact, I have no idea if this would be the case in any saltwater fish, as I have only ever seen it in tropical freshwater fish.

That said, I have owned tropical freshwater fish a lot longer than I have tropical marine fish, and some of these fish have lived to a ripe old age. And, on occasion, these older fish will present w/ what appears to be a bent back (I don't know if it is an actual deformation of the bone or some sort of dorsal growth that makes the back appear bent.) I have had freshwater fish live for over a year after I have first noticed this. It is something I attribute to age as I don't think I have seen it in a fish less than three years old (and I'm talking danios (sp?) and guppies here.) Again, I don't know if this is at all related, but I thought I would throw it out there.