Orfe Tail Deformity: Genetic, Not Disease

Observation

Two Orfe (same age, ~6″) have pronounced S/Z bend in rear body/tail. One from youth, one sudden. Others (up to 18″) normal.

Genetic/developmental defect, not disease or injury. Scoliosis-like deformity. Does not spread. Fish can live normally if not suffering.

If eating, swimming, no sores → leave alone.
If struggling to eat, bullied, or secondary infections → humane euthanasia (clove oil).
Do not breed deformed fish.

Not contagious. Your other Orfe (18″) are healthy. Enjoy them.

Pond and Water Gardening: Companion Plants for a Fishtail Palm in Central Florida; Managing Cold Damage on Fishtail Palms and Bird of Paradise; Fish Deaths After Animal Carcasses in a Garden Pond; Koi Gasping at Surface: Oxygen or Toxin?; Moving Feeder Goldfish Indoors for Winter: Tropical Tank Risks; Goldfish Swimming Head-Down: Swim Bladder Disorder; Goldfish Tail Damage: Fin Rot or Aggression?; Stocking a 100-Gallon Pond with Non-Traditional Fish: Natives and Subtropicals; Orfe Swimming Sideways with Bent Body: Causes & Outlook; Golden Orfe Lifespan and Sudden Lethargy: What's Normal?

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