Vitamin C Deficiency

A zebra danio (Danio rerio) with the typical signs of long-term vitamin C deficiency

A lot of animals in the animal kingdom are able to synthesize vitamin C from glucose, however most fish (as well as humans!) are not able to do this, as they lack the necessary enzyme required to perform the synthesis. Therefore, vitamin C has to be supplemented through their diet. Typically, if you are feeding higher quality foods, they should have enough vitamin C to maintain a healthy aquarium. Good vegetable/plant matter supplementation into a diet can also help to prevent vitamin C deficiencies, as well as feeding frozen foods. The key to proper fish diet is variety.

Vitamin C is essential for most multicellular organisms, as it is an essential part of collagen, which is used in connective tissues, scar tissue, and bone matrix. It is also a key component of the iron uptake process in animals and plays a vital role in immune system functioning.

Symptoms

While vitamin C deficiency can be asymptomatic for a long time, deformities such as lordosis (inward/outward curving of the spine, as pictured) and scoliosis (side to side curving of the spine) will start to occur. Wounds will take longer to heal, and the immune system will not be functioning correctly. Anorexia and lethargy can happen, and these will often precede some form wound/bleeding.

Treatment

Treatment involves not only an immediate supplementation of vitamin C (relatively small doses in food), but a change in the diet of the fish for a long-term solution. All fish require some form of plant matter, regardless of if they are herbivores, omnivores or carnivores. A variety of foods (prepared/flake/pellet, frozen, live, etc.) is essential to maintain the longterm health of any and all fish. While prepared foods can be a diet staple, they should not be the only source of food and nutrition for fish.

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