some fin splits just don't heal, do they?

[darthodo]

I have a male motaguense that I recently acquired. During capture and shipping some of his fins were damaged and split. Some of the split fins healed almost immediately, some have not. I think near the tip of the fin some of the damaged tissue healed over before connecting back. Will some of these splits fill in with growth and age of the fish or will the splits remain for the entire life of the fish? The particular split in question is on the tail, right in the middle at the tip.

I have seen splits in pectoral and pelvic fins that really never grew back together, but I always sold the fish before they reach adulthood. Do some of these eventually fill in?

 

[Mystus Redtail]

That's a good question, I've seen some fish over the years get pretty beat up becuase of poor choices in tank mates. But I've yet to see a fin that didn't heal. Some of them took a long long time, but all of them have grown back. Even an african cichlid that had it's tail bit off so low that I was sure that it wouldn't grow back, but now it's as good as new.

I can't say that it will heal with 100% certainty, but if I was to make a bet, I would say it will heal.

 

[darthodo]

Thanks. I certainly hope it will heal.

 

[matteo]

depends on the age of the fish really. if it's a juvenile it'll heal in no time, say less then a couple of weeks. but if the fish is fully grown it may take months.

 

[darthodo]

This fish is very young, I'd say about 5 inches. The damage was done almost 2 weeks ago.

 

[water_baby83]

Actually it depends more on the location and the severity of the damaged tissue. Age is really not a factor, as a healthy fish as an adult can regenerate tissues as easily as a juvenile. A picture would help. And actually yes, there are some instances in which the damaged areas may never full fuse as they were prior to injury.

 

[darthodo]

Kinda what I thought. I'll try to post pics. I have had the fish over two weeks now and the tip of the tail and one of the pectorals hasn't fully healed.

 

[water_baby83]

Kinda what I thought. I'll try to post pics. I have had the fish over two weeks now and the tip of the tail and one of the pectorals hasn't fully healed.

Got those pix yet?

 

[darthodo]

Not yet. Fins still no heal.

 

[water_baby83]

Not yet. Fins still no heal.

Where is the damaged tissue exactly, and how far down is it torn/damaged. If you get me a pic, I might be able to tell you if it will heal, or if you are looking at a potentially permanent battle scar.