Pleco Fin Damage Growth

[fishery]

I bought a Common pleco for my feeder fish tank and I noticed it has a cut on it's tail fin (a deep 1 cm cut).

Well the aquarium shop keeper was storing them in a tank of Piranhas.

So will the cut on the fin heal or will they remain permanently damaged.

I doubt it will heal but I thought I ll ask anyway.

I hope it doesn't affect his swimming capabilities as the tail fin is their main propulsion unit.

[mizzoutank]

It should heal and he'll be fine unless you are talking some deep wound.

But I would get some metafix and dose accordingly to ensure that it won't get infected.

[escamosa]

I agree with mizzoutank. It should heal nicely, providing you keep the water in the tank nice and clean. An anti-fungal/anti-infection type medication would a good thing to have on stand by would be a good idea.

How big is the tank that you have him in? Common plecos can grow huge, just in case you didn't realize.

[fishery]

Great to hear it will heal soon.
Its not a very big tank as it is just a feeder fish tank.
Will be returning him back to the aquarium shop once he grows big and sure I ll keep the water clean to help him heal.

[mizzoutank]

Great to hear it will heal soon.
Its not a very big tank as it is just a feeder fish tank.
Will be returning him back to the aquarium shop once he grows big and sure I ll keep the water clean to help him heal.

He should be fine to heal up if you follow that, but if the tank is already pushing his limits the stress on him won't help the healing process.

[fishery]

Well he had 2 deep cuts on his tail fin when I bought him, it has been a week since and it is great to see that it has fully healed and he is more active now.

I didn't know fish could regenerate so quickly.
I am feeding him Hikari Algae Wafers so that would have also helped him recover quickly.

Any ideas as to how often I have to feed him the wafer, I am feeding him half a wafer every alternate day. (He doesn't seem to eat more than half).

Anyway thanks guys.