? about my plecos dorsal fin...

[nero6370]

Greetings everyone,


A couple of days ago I noticed a small round hole on my plecos dorsal fin, smaller than the size of this "0". I have now noticed this has become a vertical tear from the top of the fin almost to the insertion point. I have not noticed any agressive behavior towards the pleco and it doesn't look like a nip. I do have a large crayfish and wonder if it could be a tear from a pincer... The fins on my other fish look fine so I am wondering what it might be. Any thoughts on this? Thanks Tom

 

[StiffMeister]

my plecs have torn up fins too sometimes. nothing to worry about as long as there is no sign of any external parasite/fungus etc. they can get it from fights or when they make a sudden movement and scrape hit the wood. normally it will heal pretty fast and in a week it should be hard to notice.

 

[davo]

if its just from a scuffle, or by it scraping on something, it'll grow back ok. fins, especially dorsal and tail do tear, but theyll heal. crayfish i wouldnt have thought was a particularly suitable tankmate for other fish

 

[WyldFya]

The fins will grow back no problem. What kind of crayfish is it? I personally would not have crays with plecos, but I have seen it done without any problems.

 

[davo]

o another thing i might add, if its a carnivorous pleco, i have heard of them munching the shell of lobsters/crayfish... might be something

 

[joeytoe]

My big pleco gets fin tears alot (from fights or getting spooked) they heal pretty quick.

 

[nero6370]

Well I am glad to know others have had similiar situations and it's no cause for alarm. As far as I know my pleco is a common, according to my lfs and not carnivorous. I am unsure what type of crayfish I have though. I would say it's about 3 1/2 " long and a brownish grey color. Thanks again Tom

 

[WyldFya]

Post a picture, there are several species that are within the title of common pleco. It is carnivorous, it just may not have reached the proper stage. Generally around the size of 16-18" p. lipardis, h plecostomus, h. punctatus become a hunters. I recently got rid of a 12" chocolate, h. plecostomus color morph, that had already become a hunter. They will swim near the top of the aquarium and drop on top of unsuspecting fish and with their weight hold the fish down while they work the body to their mouth to suck the fish to death.

 

[davo]

Post a picture, there are several species that are within the title of common pleco. It is carnivorous, it just may not have reached the proper stage. Generally around the size of 16-18" p. lipardis, h plecostomus, h. punctatus become a hunters. I recently got rid of a 12" chocolate, h. plecostomus color morph, that had already become a hunter. They will swim near the top of the aquarium and drop on top of unsuspecting fish and with their weight hold the fish down while they work the body to their mouth to suck the fish to death.

lol, that isnt a common occurence, but many "commons" eat meat, as most plecos are omnivorous. i've had a few of different species commonly sold as commons, and a lot of the time, if i give them shelled prawn, they only devour the shell, as opposed to the flesh beneath...