Missing Gill Cover

[Waterloo Kid]

Well, I just bought three new Keyhole Cichlids to go with my one remaining adult. Once I'd got them home I found out that one of them has half of it's gill plate missing. It looks like damage more than a defority and I was wondering if, like fins, these grew back over time. The little fella is doing fine and shows no signs of infection so at least that's a good start.
Anyone with experience of this sort of injury?

WK

 

[Gourami Lover88]

It may grow back a little but I it probabaly wont grow back to normal. I had a gourami that some how got a hole in one gill plate, it didnt fully re-seal but the hole did get smaller.

He probabaly can get all the oxygen he needs with just the other side but I would really try to not stress him, kinda like humans that only live with one lung but cant do heavy physical activite

 

[The-Wolf]

it may or may not grow back.
I have a polkadot loach with a mising gill plate, and he is doing just fine.
the only thing you need to do is ensure good water quality, as the gill plate is thee to pretect the gills from physical damage and also help prevent infections etc.
so having a gill plate missing means the fish is more likly to succumb to infection first.
as long as your housekeeping is kept up, there is no reason the fish shouldn't live a full life.

 

[Waterloo Kid]

The little guy is doing fine. he's settled in very well and is as active as his mates. I have an angelfish with a short gill plate and it's absolutely fine.
Looks good so far.

WK