Your fish might be curved due to a condition similar to "the bends" that humans can get, caused by rapid pressure changes. This condition, known as decompression sickness in fish (Philp 1974), can result in a curved spine.
Here's a breakdown:
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Decompression Sickness: This occurs when fish are brought up from deep water too quickly. The rapid change in pressure causes gas bubbles to form in their tissues and blood, leading to various health problems, including skeletal deformities.
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The Bends (Analogous to Humans): Just like divers, fish can experience issues when the pressure around them changes too rapidly. According to Philp (1974), decompression sickness is associated with a rapid and extensive reduction in environmental barometric pressure. This can cause the fish to become "bent".
While decompression sickness is one possibility, other factors could also contribute to a curved spine in fish. These include:
- Genetics: Some fish are simply born with a predisposition to spinal deformities.
- Nutrition: Deficiencies in essential nutrients, especially during development, can lead to skeletal problems.
- Disease: Certain infections or parasitic infestations can affect the spine.
- Injury: Physical trauma can also cause curvature.
