Skeletal deformities in banded cichlid (Heros severus): clinical and radiographic diagnosis

Skeletal deformities cause severe economic losses in the aquaculture industry due to the reduced market value of the affected fish. The banded cichlid (Heros severus) is an ornamental cichlid native to the Amazon region. In the summer 2011 during clinical investigation on 750 severum of 5 ornamental fish farms in Karaj and Tehran, Iran, a two-year-old severum having deformity in dorsal and anal fins was referred to the radiology section of Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Standard, high quality radiographs were taken and studied. Deformities in vertebrates, plural ribs, neural spines and hemal spines were detected. Kyphosis and Lordosis was observed in V14 to V18. The scoliosis in both parts was left and right sided and in first part was detectable in V10 to V13 and in second in V24 to V29. Neural spines of V14 to V17 and hemal spines of V16 to V22 were deformed. This case history showed that parents of this fish were offspring’s of the same fish and implies that inbreeding of brood stock may cause such deformities.