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

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Here are images of the split tail. Will it grow back normally?

tail3.jpg

tail2.jpg

tail1.jpg
 
I have a similar situation with a small female Jack Dempsey. Her tail is split, much further down towards the caudal peduncle than your fish's, and it just won't heal. She's not being picked on, and her water is pristine. This is the first time I've come across something like this.

This isn't a great pic, but you can still see how far it's split:

IMG_0825.jpg
 
Hawkfish - Can you get a clear close-up. I see it, but it would be best to try to get a pic like Darthodo provided. Then it can be more accurately assessed.

Darthodo - That's a pretty clean split you got there, and if it ever was worse, it's already healed pretty well. The tissue looks healthy, it's full, rich in color - which means adequate blood flow, and like I said, the split is pretty clean, not jagged, and the base of the wound seems to have sealed, which is good because it significantly lowers chances of infection. I am guessing that this fin will heal fine, a little unsightly, but for the most part is superficial now. It might take months, and keep in mind that it is not going to fuse as human skin does - reconnecting the tissues from the sides, but rather, is going to grow out from the base to the tip. Make sure you keep your water parameters top notch and for added immunity and tissue regeneration, look into a vitamin-soak for his foods (good idea for all your little buddies).

One of my lyretails got a bit close to one of my bamboo pups a few months back and she snapped a good inch of his dorsal spine clear off. I thought he was going to be Forrest-Gump'd but I treated him anyways, and now now he is almost completely back to normal, flexing that spine every time he approaches the new little pups. He is rediculous and asking for it, but thats another story, lol. Point being - if you treat it early, keep immune systems and overall health high, stress low, and infection free - you should have no problems with healing that fin. Give it time, and keep us posted.
 
my female con and male sev both have long lasting split fins.. I'M not too worries, not like i show them or anything...
 
water_baby83;1829314; said:
Darthodo - That's a pretty clean split you got there, and if it ever was worse, it's already healed pretty well. The tissue looks healthy, it's full, rich in color - which means adequate blood flow, and like I said, the split is pretty clean, not jagged, and the base of the wound seems to have sealed, which is good because it significantly lowers chances of infection. I am guessing that this fin will heal fine, a little unsightly, but for the most part is superficial now. It might take months, and keep in mind that it is not going to fuse as human skin does - reconnecting the tissues from the sides, but rather, is going to grow out from the base to the tip. Make sure you keep your water parameters top notch and for added immunity and tissue regeneration, look into a vitamin-soak for his foods (good idea for all your little buddies).

I do a 60% water change once a week and my nitrates don't get over 10 ppm. I do soak his freeze-dried krill in Kent Zoe so he is getting vitamin supps. I also feed freeze-dried crikets that were gut-loaded on high calcium food. His main diet consists of pellets of Omega One Super Color, Omega One Super Veggie, and Omega One Cichlid with a Hikari Floating Carnivore stick thrown in for good measure every now and then. Oh yeah, he also gets Ocean Nutrition Brine Shrimp flakes from time to time. I only put a little salt in the tank (< 1 tablespoon/10 gallons). Since the split went to the base I figure the tissue reconnected near the base faster and the area near the tip healed over before reconnecting. If the base of the split will fill in that will be great. At least the ray wasn't damaged. Thanks.
 
water_baby83;1829314; said:
Hawkfish - Can you get a clear close-up. I see it, but it would be best to try to get a pic like Darthodo provided. Then it can be more accurately assessed.

It would be a little easier if my cam wasn't a POS. LOL!

I'll see what I can get when I get home from work.
 
There is NO progress at all on the split. I think I'm gonna cut the tail and let it grow back. I've talked with some experts that show fish and they say it will work. I'm gonna cut the tail off at the white line. What do you think?

motagsurgery.jpg
 
Are you kidding me!?! NO, why, NO!!

Why would you want to do that to him? If he is healthy, eating, swimming normally, and shows no signs of deterioration, then why on earth would that be necessary???? Please don't do that. That's mean. :(
 
Okay. Although the causal fin is healed, yet still split, I will use salt and increased water changes to stimluate the tissue to regenerate (or regrow). I'll give this a try for a few months unless I sell the fish first. I always thought salt was more important in healing a fresh wound, but I did not know that it would actually stimulate tissue to regenerate. If one of you has an article on this I'd love to see it.
 
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