Injured Endli question

[joeytoe]

recently a pleco of mine pretty much decimated my Endlis tail fin an some of its scales (color missing but not down to meat).

I removed the offending pleco, added some salt an did a water change today.

Will its tail heal back to the way it was before, or will it end up being shorter?
Also should I get some Melafix or Pimafix to aid in the healing?

 

[Infblue]

the tail should grow back, but since so many of the bony rays are gone, it may or may not grow back 'deformed'.

the 'missing color' is actually quite serious, because the slime coat over that region is gone, and along with the damage from the pleco's rasping teeth, its a direct path for bacteria etc. to enter. in fact, i would say your endli is showing some quite serious bacterial infection. i would isolate it and start treating with salt and antibiotics and keep the water very clean. melafix is simply too weak of a meds at this point imo.

this is why its never a good idea to mix pleco (or other slime-sucking fish) with bichirs. true sometimes nothing bad happens, but its always a risk.

 

[deangelo]

i agree..isolate it add some salt to reduce stress and bacteria plus keep the water clean...

 

[joeytoe]

I quarentined him added salt an a few days later did a half dose of PimaFix. Hes doing better, alotve the lost color has come back. So now its a waiting game to see how his tail grows in.

 

[beblondie]

Is the redness gone?

 

[joeytoe]

Is the redness gone?

Almost all of it is, Id say about 80% of what was there is gone now.

 

[deangelo]

thats good to hear show us some pic when he gets back to normal...

 

[odalisay]

Damn! That hurts just looking at it! Good thing you caught in time and treated right away. Keep up the treatment and I know your bichir will bounce back in no time.

 

[joeytoe]

the redness is completely gone gone now all his coloration that was gone is back to. Now its time to wait an see whether or not his tail will grow back fully. I hope it does.

 

[squirt2005]

I wish you and your endli good luck but I don't think you'll need it. I saw your pictures and my largest Endli had very, very similar damage to his tail. It heals up quick with frequent h2o changes and you can't even tell there was damage at all. The spines grew back perfect. Knock on wood!!!!