Can Fish Bite Their Own Fins?

[Kittiee Katt]

Hi all, what are the chances of fish biting their own fins? My GT had beautiful little trailers on her dorsal and anal fins and now they're gone. I'm wondering if she's bitten them off. I didn't see it happen, all I know is they were there and now they're not.

She shares her tank with an L397 pleco. I don't know if he could cause the damage done though, thoughts on this? He spends 90% of his time hiding.

Tank is 4' x 2' x 2'. Décor consists of wood, rocks, live plants and fake silk plants.

I've been trying to get a pic for the last few days but she currently has eggs so she won't sit still for a pic, she'd rather try and kill my phone through the glass

These were the best I can get:

They're not the best pics, but see how short her fins are? Her anal fin was almost as long as her dorsal fin is now and her dorsal fin extended almost to the end of her tailfin.

Pic below from about a month ago, her trailers were beautiful:


Any guess as to what done it, pleco, décor or self harm? If she has done it to herself, why? And what can I do to stop it happening again?

Thanks in advance.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi all, what are the chances of fish biting their own fins? My GT had beautiful little trailers on her dorsal and anal fins and now they're gone. I'm wondering if she's bitten them off. I didn't see it happen, all I know is they were there and now they're not.

She shares her tank with an L397 pleco. I don't know if he could cause the damage done though, thoughts on this? He spends 90% of his time hiding.

Tank is 4' x 2' x 2'. Décor consists of wood, rocks, live plants and fake silk plants.

I've been trying to get a pic for the last few days but she currently has eggs so she won't sit still for a pic, she'd rather try and kill my phone through the glass

These were the best I can get:
View attachment 1293433 View attachment 1293434
They're not the best pics, but see how short her fins are? Her anal fin was almost as long as her dorsal fin is now and her dorsal fin extended almost to the end of her tailfin.

Pic below from about a month ago, her trailers were beautiful:
View attachment 1293435

Any guess as to what done it, pleco, décor or self harm? If she has done it to herself, why? And what can I do to stop it happening again?

Thanks in advance.

Tbh I doubt the Green Terror bit her trailer fin. I would suspect the Pleco.

 

[tlindsey]

Btw she still looks awesome.

 

[souzie]

Could be the decor.

I had a FH that tore his trailers off and I have no idea how. He was alone in the tank...

 

[duanes]

I also suspect the Pleco, they are notoriously active at night when cichlids sleep, and will take advantage. They will also suck the slime off cichlids at night leaving the cichlids vulnerable to disease.
I consider plecos pests in cichlid tanks, and would move the common types into algae covered cichlid tanks only during daylight hours, then back to a place they couldn't do damage.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Tbh I doubt the Green Terror bit her trailer fin. I would suspect the Pleco.

I also suspect the Pleco, they are notoriously active at night when cichlids sleep, and will take advantage. They will also suck the slime off cichlids at night leaving the cichlids vulnerable to disease.
I consider plecos pests in cichlid tanks, and would move the common types into algae covered cichlid tanks only during daylight hours, then back to a place they couldn't do damage.

You guys really think it was the L397? I assumed he wouldn't of bothered seeing as she's twice his size and never seems to sleep. I walk past the tank at 3:00am and she's just as quick to greet me as she is in the middle of the day.

Is it a bad idea to move him in with my dollars? I feel like it could be disastrous if he tries sucking their slime coat and they freak out. Thoughts on this?

The largest spare tank I have is an 80cm x 60cm x 40cm LxWxH tank (currently used to qt abused goldfish) which I feel like won't be big enough for the pleco when he eventually reaches full size. I'm not sure if I can keep up with the wc required for such a messy fish in such a small tank.

Could be the decor.

I had a FH that tore his trailers off and I have no idea how. He was alone in the tank...

Would the décor have to be sharp for her to do this? All of the wood has been sanded back so that its not sharp because I'm paranoid she will stab herself with it..


New theory, what are the chances her trailers got caught in the power head and ripped by the impeller? They were definitely long enough to get sucked into the power head, thoughts?

Thanks guys.

 

[tlindsey]

You guys really think it was the L397? I assumed he wouldn't of bothered seeing as she's twice his size and never seems to sleep. I walk past the tank at 3:00am and she's just as quick to greet me as she is in the middle of the day.

Is it a bad idea to move him in with my dollars? I feel like it could be disastrous if he tries sucking their slime coat and they freak out. Thoughts on this?

The largest spare tank I have is an 80cm x 60cm x 40cm LxWxH tank (currently used to qt abused goldfish) which I feel like won't be big enough for the pleco when he eventually reaches full size. I'm not sure if I can keep up with the wc required for such a messy fish in such a small tank.


Would the décor have to be sharp for her to do this? All of the wood has been sanded back so that its not sharp because I'm paranoid she will stab herself with it..


New theory, what are the chances her trailers got caught in the power head and ripped by the impeller? They were definitely long enough to get sucked into the power head, thoughts?

Thanks guys.

I've heard and read of Plecos doing damage to fish at night as Duanes stated.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

I've heard and read of Plecos doing damage to fish at night as Duanes stated.

Well then. Looks like I'll be saving for another "decent" size tank in the coming months. I'll set up a 100ltr temporary tabk today and move him. I tried catching him a while ago when I moved the widow tetras out of her tank but he's so quick and all the wood in there made it virtually impossible to catch him, I'll take most of the wood out before I try today.

Thanks heaps for the help. Hopefully her little trailers grow back in the coming months...

 

[Boomer1224]

good luck with your gt

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Omg I'm such an idiot. Here I am thinking I'll have to set up tiny tanks and bla bla bla... I have a 4' tank full of nocturnal fish, my pleco should fit in just fine in there. All the fish in that tank are awake at night when the pleco might be a prick so I shouldn't have problems with him in there... Right?

Tank houses x2 kuhli loaches, x3 synodontis nigriventris and a small cae who was stunted at his previous home. +1 pleco shouldn't cause too much havoc in there should he?

good luck with your gt

Thanks. I've had her a little over 12 months now and I love her.