re-growing fins

**yasai6500** · 03-15-2011, 11:11 PM

I recently bought a firemouth cichlid but when I added it to the tank, the other firemouth started to beat the crap out of it. Luckily, I was able to get into a trap but by that time, it was practically missing a caudal fin and only had a nub. I'm thinking of getting rid of the firemouths as a whole but I still feel like I should help out the firemouth. What can I do to help it grow back faster? and it also is not eating and has not eaten since I added it last friday...how can I get it to eat? I've tried brine shrimp as well as flake

**jessfish** · 03-15-2011, 11:18 PM

If its still not eating that could mean there are more problems going on - maybe google what other kind of 'treat' food they like & try feeding that.

I had a fish where the same fin was almost bitten right off, I had to put a divider in the tank until the fin grew back - which they do in most cases. But it took a while before the bully fish stopped bothering that one (no more fin bites but still got pushed around & stuff)

I added wate conditioner that has aloe to the tank since it is supposed to help them, you could try that. I think its just the API water conditioner with aloe.

But it can take a really long time for the fin to grow back - it was close to a month b4 I was able to have the divider out of my tank.

**yasai6500** · 03-15-2011, 11:22 PM

alrite thanks

**Lab_Rat** · 03-16-2011, 12:34 AM

How well the fin grows back will depend on how much damage was done to the base, where it grows out from. If the base is damaged, it may not grow back properly or at all. If it's just the fin and the base is fine, it will likely grow back well. The key is preventing a bacterial or fungal infection from setting in. Frequent water changes are the best thing to help him heal.

As far as eating, try tempting him with frozen bloodworms. You can soak them in garlic juice to help encourage him to eat.

**redbullbill** · 03-18-2011, 04:41 AM

my black skirt tetras had fin rot. I got rid of the infection.Will the fins grow back?Most of them had very little damage, but two of them had it bad one the caudal fin is almost completely gone and the tail on the other is almost gone too.

**jessfish** · 03-18-2011, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by redbullbill

my black skirt tetras had fin rot. I got rid of the infection.Will the fins grow back?Most of them had very little damage, but two of them had it bad one the caudal fin is almost completely gone and the tail on the other is almost gone too.

I would think that what Lab_Rat wrote would apply for your fish as well, it depends on how bad the damage, do lots of water changes, get some water conditioner with aloe...if the fish is struggling a lot you could get a large breeder net thing that attaches inside the tank & put them (or the two that are really in bad shape) in there for a 'rest' so they dont exhaust themselves. Seemed to work with mine, but he only lost a little more than half his fin.

This is the breeder net/mini hospital I bought, its a really good size!!
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/Fish_Acce...2.html?tc=fish

**redbullbill** · 03-18-2011, 04:58 AM

they seem to swim fine.The tail seems to be doing good its not jagged anymore the other is coming along alot slower.Something else i noticed is since that happened none of them swim together anymore they just kinda chase each other around.Would that be from the infection they had?

**jessfish** · 03-18-2011, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by redbullbill

they seem to swim fine.The tail seems to be doing good its not jagged anymore the other is coming along alot slower.Something else i noticed is since that happened none of them swim together anymore they just kinda chase each other around.Would that be from the infection they had?

could be from the infection, they are still recovering so maybe dont want to be too close with each other? when mine was in the net breeder & then back in the tank - even though he never left the tank itself - it took a few days for him to get back in with the group.
just make sure the ones who are in better shape dont nip at the ones who are still healing.

**redbullbill** · 03-18-2011, 05:08 AM

I haven't seen them nip at each other they just dart at one another.I put some of that API stress coat in which has aloe, I only put it in after a water change, should i be adding it a little more often?

**jessfish** · 03-18-2011, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by redbullbill

I haven't seen them nip at each other they just dart at one another.I put some of that API stress coat in which has aloe, I only put it in after a water change, should i be adding it a little more often?

I would add it after a water change, so once a week but when I was trying to help the fin heal I added it twice a week, not the full amount the second time about 1/2 just enough that I hoped it helped lol