One of my fantails has somehow gotten splits in his tailfins. They don't look like bites, and the top corner of his fin looks a little broken. He's been chasing the other goldie a lot lately, could this have split his fins? The other one doesn't have anything wrong with his. What can I do to help him?
2007-03-06 01:11:41 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
He only chases the other one after eating... maybe I'm underfeeding them... The other goldie has a couple of splits in his now too. Should I feed them more and see if he quits chasing the other maybe?
2007-03-07 15:29:24 · update #1
I wouldn't worry about it. this is usually caused by extra activity and will heal on it's own.
Just keep an eye on him to make sure that there is no underlying illness that hasn't shown up yet.
2007-03-06 01:25:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chasing? Split fins? Hmm. Could be a male chasing a female it is that time of yeat ya know. Split or ragged fins is a sign of stress. Check your water perameters first. Make sure the ph hasn't dropped and there is no ammonia or nitrite. If nitrAte is above 40 ppm, that could be the culprit. Change the water about 50%. However a split in the tail fin is not the worst thing that could happen. It depends on how well it heals up. If the fish is healthy it will heal on its own. If the fins are very ragged it could be fin rot. Never the less a water change is in order. This is what I do and I see this sort of thing a lot. Usually I do nothing and just watch the behavior of the fish. If the fish is eating well, active, alert, fins out and up, he's most likely fine. But if he's sad looking with clamped fins, not active, hanging out by the filter outflow, bottom sitting, hiding, not eating well, picking on other fish, fin flcking a lot, yawning a lot, breathing rapidly... those are sure indicators that something is wrong. I always start with water changes in a big way. Clean water will usually clear up fin problems.
If they are attempting to spawn... that is one or more fish keep chasing and nipping at the bottom area of a fish, relentlessly. That could be spawning behavior. The males chasing will ignore food and only be interested in the female. If this is the case, she needs to be separated from everybody for a few days. Don't try to make babies that's for pros. Get a utility basket (plastic with plenty of holes) put her in it for a few days. When you let her out watch and make sure no one chasing her around, if they do put her back in. It's very important to separate the female BC they could run her to death.
If the erosion becomes worse insted of better take a clean cotton ball and swab the affected fin area with hydrogen peroxide and wait a few days to see if it starts to heal. If you see black color on the effected fins you will know healing has begun. The black is usually indicates like a scab, the fins will grow back.
Please try to avoid using pet store bought meds, as they usally do much more harm than good. I will tell you right now MELAFIX doesn't work at all and is a waste of money. Stuff like quick cure will burn the edges of fins and disrupt your filter bacteria.
I think a little better tank maintenence will solve your fin problem. Try changing at least 25% of the water per week. If the tank is a small one that's overstocked you can change 50% once a week. That's what I have to do, my fish have gotten big so I change a lot of water to keep them happy. I have 4 in a 55 gallon, but they are all over 4 inches long. The one with long fins constantly has tears in them and I don't worry too much. Hope this helps you.
2007-03-06 10:05:54 · answer #2 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i understand that you worry, i would also feel the same. anyways, my goldies were sick last week, their scales are lifted and fins are broken. I bought fish medicine for them.. either for fungus or finrot... just check your local pet shops... better safe than sorry. read the instruction first. my gold fish are better now...good luck and i hope they get well.
2007-03-06 09:55:06 · answer #3 · answered by everything_matters 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is ok, he probably don't remember how it happen either speaking that they only have a memory of like 5 seconds or is it 5 mins, I don't know but its fine it'll heal itself.
2007-03-06 09:18:01 · answer #4 · answered by eclipsefreak 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's fine. my angel fish gets that all the time, it's from other fish being agressive. no need to worry.
2007-03-06 09:16:07 · answer #5 · answered by kg22 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋