fin growth question

[severum mama]

Hey everyone! You may remember from when I mentioned this a couple months ago, but my work let me set up a 55 gallon tank there. I work in a day program for adults with developmental disabilities, and this tank was set up for our clients. I'm using an Emperor 400 and an Aquaclear 200 on this tank, and I've seeded the Emperor with a couple of old Biowheels and an old filter cartridge from my own tanks (I use a bunch of Emperors so it won't be too big of a deal for my tanks). As I was switching out the media, I got 8 flame tetras to start off with. Just as I expected, the tank is going through a mini cycle, but I don't think it will last too long- I'll be testing and changing water as necessary.

Anyway, here's the real question: I bought one of the tetras because I felt so sorry for it. Its pectoral and anal fins have been completely chewed off, and about 1/2 of the caudal fin is missing also. There are no signs of fin rot so I am pretty sure this fish was just attacked at some point (I also noticed this fish the last few times I went to my [acronym:5e38034feb="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:5e38034feb]). This fish shows no signs of any illness and gets around surprisingly well. I know that nipped and torn fins generally grow back fine, but do fins grow back if they are almost completely missing? If so, do you think Melafix would help, or would something else be more effective? [acronym:5e38034feb="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:5e38034feb]

[TankGirl]

I have seen fins grow completely back, but ideally the fish should be in quarrantine with Melafix and Pimafix while this happens, so you won't have to use so much medication for a large tank. If the fish is otherwise healthy and there is no sign of infection, you can consider just leaving him alone and paying close attention to water quality (like I know you will anyway) and the fins ought to grow back.

Hope things go well with this tank - it is a great idea!

i can't answer your question completely, but here's what I do know... I have a 4 year old cory cat, and about 2 years ago I had a swordtail in with the cory. To make a long story short, the swordtail is now the neighbor kids because it kept gnawing at the top fin of my cory. I never treated it but it never grew back. It looks like it has tried to, but never succeded. It was chewed off completely. So as for cory cats, or maybe without treating them being chewed off the whole way, I'd say no. However my betta attacked one of my male guppies and bit exactly the bottom half of his tail off, and it is regrowing. It might just depend on the fish species as well.
Not much of a help, but possilbly a little information.
-Stewie

[severum mama]

Well, great news- the tank cycled in 3 days. I tested the water this morning and everything looks great. I put the fish in on Monday along with the slimy Biowheels and filter cartridge, and when I tested the water Tuesday morning I had:
ammonia- .25
nitrite- 0
nitrate- 10
pH- 7.2
I immediately did a [acronym:041b475c28="Partial water change"]PWC[/acronym:041b475c28] of about 10-15%.

This morning, I tested again:
ammonia- 0
nitrite- 0
nitrate- looks like about 15
pH- 7.2

I'm so excited I just had to let you know.


I was lucky just to be able to set up this one tank (I also keep a turtle tank at work that was donated to us), so I don't have a [acronym:041b475c28="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:041b475c28] that I could treat the fish in. This tank is part of an aquarium class for clients that meets once a week, so it will be getting 25% PWCs religiously. I hope it grows back... poor guy.

[megos1]

His fins will grow back as long as he doesn't catch any kind of fungus or anything. My suggestion would be to put some Melafix in the water. That stuff is a miracle worker!
Good Luck with him.

[JimmyJam]

Yea, Melafix is the way to go.