Torn RD Fins

[zekni]

Hey guys,

Recently I was given an 84g tank with 18+ LARGE fish in it. Well, I've since thinned out the crowd down to an adult red devil pair - female about 8", male about 9-10".
When I first got the tank, they were in decent shape (the water quality certainly was not though). After removing everything else, they started continously courting and, while not super aggressive toward each other, have nipped up each other's fins pretty significantly. I've seperated them, does anyone know how long it's likely to take for their fins to heal? Water params are spot on.

Also, is it likely that, once seperated (different tanks) that I'll eventually be able to put them back in with each other with dithers? Currently, none of the fish (convicts) I plan to eventually use as dithers are large enough.
Is it more likely they'll be able to go back in with each other if I use a divided tank rather than seperate tanks?

Thanks.

 

[ae2359]

Raising the temp. and feeding lots of good foods will speed up the process, but other then that it really shouldn't take to long at the most a couple of weeks to a month

 

[chefdazza]

it shouldn't make too much difference, either they'll spawn or they will try to kill each other, other than that, ae2359 has good advice for you

 

[zekni]

Actually, I could really care less if they spawn or not. I'd just like them both in the same tank without a divider... and without mangled fins. That might be wishful thinking though. I guess I'll just have to experiment.

 

[scottv]

did u ever take pics of it with the 18 large fish still in it?

 

[zekni]

I didn't, unfortunately. I started seperating them pretty much right away. But the stock included: 5 large red devils, 1 adult oscar, 2 12+" common plecos, 2 12-14" pacus, a jewel, a blood parrot, a jack dempsey, 2 adult convicts and about 40 convict juvies. I can't remember what other fish there were in there, but keep in mind this is an 84gal tank.

Here's a couple of pics when I was down to the plecos, pacus, and the largest RD pair (parents of the other 3). Sorry about the dirty glass. Big fish splash big.

 

[johno27]

Put some melafix in there too that will heal them up real fast

 

[scottv]

OH now I see how that worked out! I thought the 84 gallon was a 4 foot tank or less

Still a SH*TLOAD of fish though!

 

[zekni]

I still can't believe the RDs spawned in there and didn't kill everything else in the tank.

 

[chefdazza]

the pacus pretty big....