Deformed barbel

[Jeff Smith]

Have any of you experienced this before?
This 11lb fish had quite a serious deformity but , was in otherwise excellent condition and it certainly didn’t seem to affect her ability to scrap.

 

[Richard Parsons]

Yes, I've had a few like that over the years. As you say, it doesn't affect their vigour! I imagine they themselves think they're completely normal and probably live without reduced self-esteem or being terribly self-conscious.

 

[Stephen Walker]

My first ever barbel was this deformed creature.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Had afew with odd body shapes and abnormal lumps here and there. Doesn’t seem to effect them at all as they all go like missiles once pricked

 

[Paul Bullinger]

Have any of you experienced this before?
This 11lb fish had quite a serious deformity but , was in otherwise excellent condition and it certainly didn’t seem to affect her ability to scrap.
View attachment 20440

Not a barbel, but I caught a nice chub with a very similar deformity and, likewise, it didn't stop it from putting up a good scrap.

 

[Terry Simner]

Had afew with odd body shapes and abnormal lumps here and there. Doesn’t seem to effect them at all as they all go like missiles once pricked

We are talking about barbel here ... are you @Richard Isaacs?

 

[Richard Parsons]

We are talking about barbel here ... are you @Richard Isaacs?

Rich tends to be a little wistful sometimes, and goes off track!

 

[Paul Whiteing]

I had this one on the Pats a few years ago, dubbed "Quasimodo" it gave a great (if unusual) fight and swam off strongly.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

We are talking about barbel here ... are you @Richard Isaacs?

Where was barbel mentioned???
Good job you said I was on with finding some pictures

 

[Stephen Crowhurst]

Some fish are more prone to this kind of deformity. Golden Orfe are terrible for it, for those not familiar they are a strain off Ide, not a million miles from Barbel. It also effects Koi semi regularly.
No one knows, although there’s plenty of speculation as to why this occurs in Cyprinidae members, but they can often live many years before it becomes a serious hinderance.

 

[Daniel Jeffery]

Yep seen it in barbel, chub and perch. Sometimes referred to as scoliosis but I think it’s actually lordosis/kyphosis as the curvature is usually dorsal or ventral (or both) rather than lateral

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Years ago when I worked on a fish farm and fishery I was told that electro-fishing could cause some young fish to develop a kink in the spine. I'm not sure how true that is though?

 

[Stephen Crowhurst]

I’ve heard loads of reasons but nothing conclusive.
Personally I think it’s just something that happens to the spine, through damage. Spawning etc can be rough.

 

[Derek Funcks]

I,m guessing some fish can have deformaties, just like human beings.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I,m guessing some fish can have deformaties, just like human beings.

Would be my guess too Derek.

 

[Derek Funcks]

 

[Alex Dalton]

I have caught what looks like the same deformed fish about 5 times over the last 8 years from the tidal trent ,starting at around 9lb and last time i caught it was around 11 1/2lb, my mate has caught it about 3 times all within about 300 yards of bank , he nick named it Humphrey. Maybe they don't range distance wise as far as some barbel do .

 

[Paul Collins]

I once caught a small barbel from Kings weir and bringing it in it didn't feel right. When it was on the bank the reason became obvious. At some point in the past it had entered a discarded glass bottle neck and I assume grew into it. Managed to pull it off and there was a definite indentation in the body.
Incidentally it was one of a dozen that evening caught from the weedy run below the Weir, left hand bank.
Those were the days. Probably 1971.

 

[Terry Harman]

Years ago when I worked on a fish farm and fishery I was told that electro-fishing could cause some young fish to develop a kink in the spine. I'm not sure how true that is though?

I was told the same joe

 

[Terry Harman]

I once caught a small barbel from Kings weir and bringing it in it didn't feel right. When it was on the bank the reason became obvious. At some point in the past it had entered a discarded glass bottle neck and I assume grew into it. Managed to pull it off and there was a definite indentation in the body.
Incidentally it was one of a dozen that evening caught from the weedy run below the Weir, left hand bank.
Those were the days. Probably 1971.

You wouldn’t catch a dozen in 4 years now paul