Guppies Bitten Fins

[theelysium]

Hi,

I have a community tank and I was researching online for a fish that would eat Black & Hair algae. I found two different sites that said American Flag Fish were really good at eating those types of algae and they were suitable for a community tank. Well I found out the hard way that those 2 sites have no idea what they are talking about! I put 2 males and 2 females in my tank and they tore most of my fish to shreds. I have since removed three of them from the tank 2 males and 1 female. I left a small female because she has a mild temperament. The 3 I took out were mean!

So now my problem is that I have fish with bitten fins, mainly guppies. I have read that once the fish have bites on their fins they will get infected and die. My concern is that they might get infected and then possibly spread bacteria to the rest of the fish in the tank.

Here are my questions:

1. Should I remove the fish with the bitten fins now before they get infected and possibly infect the rest of the fish?
2. Should I wait and see what happens and then remove them?
3. Is there a way to prevent the fish with the bitten fins from getting an infection and dying?
4. Is there a suitable fish for a community tank that eats Black & Hair algae? (I already have Chinese Algae Eaters, Otocinclus & Bamboo Shrimp they don’t touch it.)


Thank you for your help,

Joseph

P.S. I have added photos of the Hurt Fish so you can see how bad it is.

 

[haleystropicalfish]

Awww, pore fish! I personally would look the infection thing up on several websites first, and see if what you read was true. I have some tattered fins in my tank too, and two young females died lately. I don't know if thats what its from or not, but i'm keeping a close eye on them. Do you have a hospital tank? If you do, put all the fish with brocken fins in there and try adding a stress-reducer. They can help with healing and restoring their slime-coat. Try that and hope they heal!! /good luck, but I don't know anything about alge eaters.

 

[robertherrington]

I would assume as long as your water conditions are good they will heal up before to long ( assumption ) as haley said add some stress coat. Most likely if there weren't any sick fish in your tank to begin with their fins will just heal up and everything will be fine

 

[helterskelter]

Make sure ur ammonia, nitrite and nitrates lever's are nice and low and treat the water with melifix as this will stop most infections from setting in.

 

[lilfishie]

should heal right up with the right care, get some melifix as has been said then just give it time and clean stable water and they will grow back, i have ahd a few like this, never lost one as for the algae otos only eat green that i am aware of, CAE will get aggressive as it grows then won't touch an algae in the tank, not sure on bamboo shrimp as i have never kept them, i have an Amano shrimp, i have had him a week and already there is a difference in the amount of algae. but the best and easiest way is to remove it yourself especially the hairy algae. whats your tank size and stocking?