Another RTG tailfin question, plz read.

[StiffMeister]

Guys, the good news is: Both tailfin and barbels of my RTG are growing back. He has 2 mini barbels on his nose now so in several months all should be good. Furthermore he is eating well and behaving very cool. His tailfin is also regrowing rapidly but i have one point of sorrow: The edges are regrowing fast but thus far the middle is staying far behind. Not just behind, but the middle doesnt seem to regrow at this point. So now it looks like 2 fin parts with one centimeter in between.
What do you think? Could it be that this part of the muscle was closed wih the wound so that finnage is not able to come out? Will it regrow by itslef or should i get the aro out and prick his skin on this place?
Any suggestions and ideas are welcome!

 

[StiffMeister]

nobody?

 

[wizzin]

of course, I've never kept an RTG, but in my opinion, the fins are probably going to stay split. I suppose you could cut the fins, but you'd need some way to keep them together while they heal, which I have no idea how you'd execute. I say as long as he's healthy, and the water is in good condition, leave him alone. I think there could be a very small chance that the fins may grow back to their original form, but don't bet on it. IMO...

 

[Boydo]

It should regrow back to normal shape however expect a discoloration where the new and old re-join, normally goes a little darker. If you could take a pic that would help me help you. Good Luck.

 

[wizzin]

I would've thought with a 1cm gap between the two edges of the fin that have healed, there would be no way for the fin to grow back together Of course, if the fish is young, then yes, it will grow back together as the fish grows, but if it's a 20" fish, then I doubt it.

 

[StiffMeister]

here are 2 pics of the tailfin. what do you think?

 

[sam_cj]

imo your aros tailfin will grow back though it may take sometime.

 

[StiffMeister]

but what do you think of the part in the middle?

 

[Boydo]

It will take a while, but will grow back just may take several months. You can always transmore and cut back the fin and it will grow back faster.

 

[StiffMeister]

thanks for the reply Boydo. i will give him some more weeks and hopefully i will see some increase in finnage in the middle. if not i can always catch him, anesthesise and cut teh fin while pricking the skin in the middle.