Amputated fin on GATF, advice please

[Chicxulub]

Yesterday my GATF lost his dorsal fin in a fight with my much larger black arowana.

I've taken the basic steps of doing a massive water change to ensure the best possible water and I added salt and Melafix in order to try to fight off the possibility of any infections. Are there any further steps anyone would recommend for the treatment of an amputated fin?

Second, the cut is fairly ragged and nasty looking. In order to get the fin to grow back in the best possible way, would I be well served to cut the jagged edge with a razor to allow for cleaner healing, or does the nasty cut not make any real difference to the fin healing?

I'm reasonably certain that this will eventually heal up perfectly, I'm looking for advice on the best way to help the fish heal up as healthily as possible.

Thanks in advance.

Here's a picture that I took last night:

View attachment 927305

 

[doomiedee]

[video=youtube_share;zq6m0jnuzQY]http://youtu.be/zq6m0jnuzQY[/video]



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[Chicxulub]

[video=youtube_share;zq6m0jnuzQY]http://youtu.be/zq6m0jnuzQY[/video]



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Thanks man, good video. Uarujoey knows his stuff. That video convinced me to give it a try. If it worked that well on a $1200 Asia aro, I hope to get similar results on my GATF. I'd have been incredibly worried if he hadn't specifically made the comment that it feels like he's cutting through bone because that's exactly what it felt like. I know from reading literature that ATF don't have bony rays, but it was still somewhat nerve racking. I was also fairly worried when I first put him back in because the clove oil took a while to wear off. I had to hold him in front of a powerhead for a while for him to come around. He's now swimming around somewhat OK though.

I'll try to get some pics in a day or two when he's doing better.

 

[JOSCAR05]

Same thing happened with my silver arowana and on his anal fin. Saw the video from uarujoey (great videos by the way) and been wanting to cut as well and pretty sure I'm going to do it soon. Good luck with yours though.


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[doomiedee]

Thanks man, good video. Uarujoey knows his stuff. That video convinced me to give it a try. If it worked that well on a $1200 Asia aro, I hope to get similar results on my GATF. I'd have been incredibly worried if he hadn't specifically made the comment that it feels like he's cutting through bone because that's exactly what it felt like. I know from reading literature that ATF don't have bony rays, but it was still somewhat nerve racking. I was also fairly worried when I first put him back in because the clove oil took a while to wear off. I had to hold him in front of a powerhead for a while for him to come around. He's now swimming around somewhat OK though.

I'll try to get some pics in a day or two when he's doing better.

No problem. Just glad it helped. Yeah Joey does know his stuff. I've never done it on any other fish other then a cichlid that I had with a similar injury to joeys aro but I figured it would work and help with letting the dorsal grow back fully. I was scared the first few cuts because it was so was like cutting bone I felt like I was hurting the Oscar but it recovered well. I had to hold the o in front of the return from my filter too and I think Joey had the same problem in his video might be the effects of the clove oil once it knocks out the fish its so near death that it takes a few minutes to regain it strength


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[SickSauce]

I think you should consider that the Aro's tail isnt a Hard bone so it can regrow evenly after being cut. The dorsal Fin has a Main bone/ spur that moves independently so if that bone is cut short I believe thru my conversations that it wont regrow to same length or shape. Same would apply to side and anal fins with the same bone. on a side note I have a Flagtails Dorsal fin remove thru fighting and grow but it was only a few centimeters cut. even tho it looks Normal t is Shorter that it was before. Yours like more like half so My opinion is its just gina heal over to a nob and stay short. Good luck

 

[Chicxulub]

I think you should consider that the Aro's tail isnt a Hard bone so it can regrow evenly after being cut. The dorsal Fin has a Main bone/ spur that moves independently so if that bone is cut short I believe thru my conversations that it wont regrow to same length or shape. Same would apply to side and anal fins with the same bone. on a side note I have a Flagtails Dorsal fin remove thru fighting and grow but it was only a few centimeters cut. even tho it looks Normal t is Shorter that it was before. Yours like more like half so My opinion is its just gina heal over to a nob and stay short. Good luck

ATF, like most Alestids, don't have fin bones. They only have cartilage. I'm hoping it will grow back well, but with the level of damage the fish endured, I feel as though I really have nothing to lose in trying, you know? I would not have done this if he had bones in his fins. Don't take this the wrong way, but I really hope that you're wrong about it healing to a nub! lol

 

[doomiedee]

I think you should consider that the Aro's tail isnt a Hard bone so it can regrow evenly after being cut. The dorsal Fin has a Main bone/ spur that moves independently so if that bone is cut short I believe thru my conversations that it wont regrow to same length or shape. Same would apply to side and anal fins with the same bone. on a side note I have a Flagtails Dorsal fin remove thru fighting and grow but it was only a few centimeters cut. even tho it looks Normal t is Shorter that it was before. Yours like more like half so My opinion is its just gina heal over to a nob and stay short. Good luck

By the way the pic looks I do think he had to cut it completely off. The video was just an example and uraujoey explained it better then I ever could. But your right for the most part.


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[Aquanero]

Some Iodine on the cut area will help with healing and prevent secondary infection.

 

[joey02]

Nice job pal...

Glad the video offered some help.