Hole in snakehead's tail fin

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hanwyz

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 8, 2013
299
2
16
United Kingdom
Hi
I have recently moved my pulchra from his grow out tank into his final tank - 160L 39x16x16, and he seems to be settling in nicely. However, this morning, I was doing my usual daily checks, and I noticed his tail fin has a small hole in it and the edges are slightly "ragged" looking. This is only a small hole and it doesn't seem to be affecting him, but it's worrying me. Water parameters are all 0 (new tank, mature filter) and he is the only fish in the tank - has two snails as companions. I didn't spot this the other day when I moved him so think it has happened since then. There are no new sharp objects in the tank - just the lava rocks that he has always had in with him. My initial thoughts are either: he's caught himself, or a bacterial or fungal infection causing fin rot or fin degradation. he looks normal and colourful apart from this hole and the ragged edges to that one fin, the fin also still being colourful. He's still eating like a pig as well. Any help would be appreciated :)
 
Little bit of tears on the fins are not really worrying, only when you start seeing fuzzy around it.. Or the hole is being eaten away by something then it's time to get alarmed. But after one or two days the hole will close up, unlike mine. The main fins it use to swim split in two. But will close up in a few days. If it's behaviour is still normal then there is No need to worry! :)

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Ok thank you, I will keep an eye on it then, and hopefully it will do as you say and close up... I think I worry more about this guys health than any other fish...
 
I would not worry, very common for them to put small rips or holes in their own fins, especially when out into a new tank. He probably was just doing some exploring/digging/rearranging at night and caught his fin on something, should heal very quickly snakeheads heal from ripped fins faster then any other fish i've worked with.
 
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