One of my fancy guppies just had his tail split—is that common?

[JCinPA]

I have a beautiful blue guppy I’ve had for over a month, and he looked fine this morning. I looked in the tank this evening and his caudal fin is completely split now, horizontally. It doesn’t seem to affect his mobility, but it was very surprising in that it wasn’t something that I saw developing. It was fine, and boom, it’s now split.

A) Is that common with guppies?
B) Is it permanent, or will his tail grow together again?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

It depends how it happened. But regardless, clean water is the best way to encourage healing so increase frequency of water changes

 

[JCinPA]

I’m doing them weekly and am overfiltered so that’s not a cause. Weird. They chase each other constantly, nobody seems to get the upper hand. Maybe he got nipped. I googled it and it should heal itself in a few weeks, apparently.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Why come here for advice if you're only going to listen to Google?

 

[GaryE]

It's a function of breeder's choices. Wild guppies, like wild Betta splendens, don't have oversized banner tails. The fin rays extend in 'fancy' forms, but the fins between them are still soft tissue. So you have a semi rigid ray, and a soft material between the rays, If the fish is in movement and a tiny nick or split occurs, the absurdly large tail starts to run.

You ever wonder why modified Betta splendens males are kept in jars so small they can't move? When they can, splits between the fin rays are almost inevitable, and hobbyists won't buy tattered looking Bettas. We make up stories of them catching the fins on decor, when the fins split from the fish moving.

Some guppies seem to have stronger tissue between the rays than others. Wild fish of other species who have fin extensions rarely have splits, but we push tail growth far beyond their limits. Splits and tears are the result. Usually, they heal up. Then another split happens. You combat it with water changes to help healing happen, and avoiding any tankmates who might want to see what those fins taste like.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

Why come here for advice if you're only going to listen to Google?

Maybe came here because he doesn't just listen to google?

 

[JCinPA]

Why come here for advice if you're only going to listen to Google?

There are a surprising number of people here who get their knickers in a twist if someone goes anywhere else for advice or has a differing viewpoint than theirs. @OldFishKeeper gets it.

I like to get a check on what I find using Google, and I like to see if I'll learn something additional, it provides a more balanced range of information. Mostly because of this forum, and a lot of information found through Google, I've become what I would consider not an expert, but an advanced intermediate (to borrow a ski school classification) in freshwater aquarium water quality in fairly short order.

I run both a UGF and an AquaClear AC20 in my 10-gallong tank, and I pack that with two of the 30 PPI sponges, and skip the Biomax and charcoal (hat tip to @TwoTankAmin for that education about foam as biological filtering). I appreciate your comment about water quality, but I simply pointed out that that is not the factor here. I monitor my water probably more than is necessary, and do regular water changes. I wasn't being dismissive, or arguing with your correct statement ... just saying it is not the issue here.

There are plenty of people here who acknowledge that there are various ways to gain information, and that there are different thoughts about certain topics and there may not be a definitive answer to some questions. @GaryE response was VERY informative, as I've found 100% of his are. His posts illustrate both the breadth and the depth of his knowledge. He also doesn't get his nose out of joint if I do some research elsewhere. I love those people and the help they provide.

Responses like yours, however, are kind of offputting, and for me at least, detract a little from the appeal of this forum. Luckily folks like GaryE are the majority here, which keeps me coming back.

 

[GaryE]

THis comes from the school of hard knocks. My fins are in tatters.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My knickers are not in a twist and doing your research is commendable, I wasn't implying otherwise.

From what I've seen in some of your other posts is that you've had an awful lot of fish die in a short amount of time, you're still struggling with an uncycled tank etc. There's no judgement from me because we all have to start somewhere and learn from mistakes as we go along me included!

My response wasn't meant to be off putting, so apologies for that but I can't help thinking you could have saved a few more of your fish if you'd heed the advice you received here by folks who have been in the hobby for decades and have moved with the times. I'm afraid I've become one of those people who constantly barks on about how larger water changes are way more beneficial than the old school of thought of 25%. I appreciate you're overfiltering but that still doesn't get rid of the nitrates that build up which over time will weaken your fish and cause problems. And if you're still reading nitrites then you should be doing larger more frequent water changes to dilute that as much as possible anyway.

I've banged my drum enough now I shall leave you in peace, good sir!

 

[JCinPA]

Thank you. I understand that perspective, makes sense. Nitrates have never been above 20 in that tank though. Weekly water changes, lots of filtration, and a very light bio load keep that tank pristine.

I’ve learned 90% of what I’ve picked up here and I appreciate it. My issues were learning curve issues, not in not heeding advice here. The last was adding a fish without quarantining. Dumb. Set up a QT tank.

All I read about fin splits after posting the question said it’s not uncommon and usually fixes itself. All I was saying about your comment about water quality was it must have been something else. I’m somewhat OCD test the water frequently and change religiously. So I read your comment as a little snarky, so Inlikely overreacted.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate it.

 

[JCinPA]

Forgot to update this. The tail split healed up in like 3 days. Apparently this is not uncommon in guppies with those huge tails, but in good conditions the splits are very temporary. Water conditions are great, never get above 10 PPM nitrates in this tank.

 

[emeraldking]

It also depends on what may have caused it. In general, fin tissue in guppies "can" regenerate. But it's very individual how fast it will heal. If it's fin rot and depending on the stage, regeneration won't always happen. But I think that it's just damaged. in your case. Large finned guppies can damage their fins on things. That's not rare.

Finding information (no matter the issue) by using Google "can" be of great importance. But it can also be that you'll find incorrect information. For there's a lot of misinformation on the internet as well. So, it basically can go two ways...

 

[FattyFish]

I’m doing them weekly and am overfiltered so that’s not a cause. Weird. They chase each other constantly, nobody seems to get the upper hand. Maybe he got nipped. I googled it and it should heal itself in a few weeks, apparently.

Guppies can be fine one minute, then all of a sudden they can just spar with each other. I had two stunners, the same colour, had them for months, then they started to flash at each other but no contact. The next morning, one of them was hiding in the floating plants with his tail shredded. I dropped him into a QT, and he was swimming and feeding for two days, the dead. You just never know with fish. Fish that are labelled as peaceful only take some time to have a bad day, and the Sh*t hits the fan!

 

[JCinPA]

Wow! I'm getting another two male guppies to bring my 10 gallon to six. That should help them going after each other. Which I don't think they are doing now to any great extent. They all look happy and healthy.