Bichir “split” tail
- Thread starter Caveden
- Start date
If it doesn’t have any healing membrane that fuses the tail at the split after a couple weeks. It’s likely permanent. You can cut if if you’d like. Likely Not a popular method for most ?. I’ve experienced several bichirs with mangled and split back tails. It always heals back to 100% after a month or two.
The rigid parts (ray) of the tail are already wonky and too far apart for the membrane to grow in between. It's probably why the membrane hasn't grown back within a few months of the original owner having that bichir. The rigid parts have to grow back normally in order for that tail not to be split. I've had a retroppinis get the 2-3 rigid parts (and membrane) of the tail bitten and pulled off all the way to the flesh part of the tail. It completely grew back within 2-3 months.
I'm not saying to cut the forked rays all the way to the end. Just stating that bichirs have pretty good healing capabilities (except for the eyes and nasal appendage).
I'm not saying to cut the forked rays all the way to the end. Just stating that bichirs have pretty good healing capabilities (except for the eyes and nasal appendage).
Cutting the membrane to get it to grow back in between the rays probably won't work since the rays have grown crooked and really far apart. You will notice that at the base of the fork there are no missing rays.
Why cut it? To make it look "better" ? It would possibly affect him more than the current split, it would look artificial, and there is the risk of getting secondary infections. Not worth it by my book... but it is of course not my fish.
