Split Dorsal Fin On Hifin Swordtail

[tangokitty]

Well my swordfish has a pretty bad set of splits in his dorsal fin and he is not swimming as great as he was. I'm treating wil primafix and melafix with not much improvement. He still eats. Any advice?

 

[tangokitty]

Tank size: 50 gallon
pH: between 7-8
ammonia: safe
nitrite: safe
nitrate: safe
kH: good
gH: unknown
tank temp: 73

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Hiding in the plants. He is a hi fin red eyed red swordtail with a piece missing from his dorsal fin. I have been treating him and the tank with Pima Fix for 4 days to prevent any fungal infections do to the torn fin (the tear goes all the way down) He has been eating well and acting normal until After the water change today.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25-30% every wednesday and some times sundays too

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: I use Excell, iron additives, root tabs, Co2 (with yeast bottle) and fertilized suplement by flourish. i use Chemi-pure in the filter.

 

[stang1]

Have you got the exact readings for your water stats?
What other fish are in the tank?

 

[tangokitty]

Ammonia is .25 ppm
nitrate is 20 ppm
nitrite 0 ppm

I have 10 cherry barbs, 5 bleeding hearts, 1 female swardtail, 1 red tail shark 6 ottos, 2 BN plecos, and a few ghost shrimp

 

[tangokitty]

Here is a better shot where you can see the splits.

 

[tangokitty]

Sorry the pictures abit blurry.

 

[tangokitty]

any advice would be welcomed!

 

[emmsy]

Blimey, how did that happen?. He must have caught himself on something, or there is a bully in the tank. If the other fish are healthy, please don't treat the whole tank mate, get yourself a Qtank. It is in a fish's nature to pick on another fish that is less than perfect, and if you leave him in there much longer, he may not make it, either through bullying or stress.Have you got another small tank and a spare heater? if you have, move him and treat with a small amount of melafix just to prevent infection, but there is no need to add any chemicals at all. Fish tear their fins all the time. They grow back very quickly if the water quality if good.


Emma

 

[Mikaila31]

I would separate him. Also you have some ammonia, which is going to be a problem with these guys. I have some really similar swords and IMO these guys aren't the hardiest things. They don't do well under stress. It would be best if you could move him to a bare bottom tank to recover. When they have really long fins like that, it takes a long time to fix fin damage. The fin will heal, but you will still have those splits down it. It may take months before they fully disappear.

I suggest doing a water change and add Prime or something similar to get the ammonia down. Ammonia should not appear in a stable tank. Did you do anything to it recently or add/change anything?

Also how long have you had him and has the female always attacked him?

 

[emmsy]

nice on mate, I skitted over the readings, didn't notice the ammonia.

 

[tangokitty]

the ammonia is most likely caused because I just changed out old filter media and did a water change at the same time, I know that wasn't a good idea. but the ammonia is now 0 and the nitrate is 20 and the nitrite is also 0. I do not have a QT tank at the moment. A friend actually wanted some african frogs so I let her have it. But I could buy a new 1 gallon tank for about $10 would that work? I could just put some gravel from this tank in to cycle it and then add him. i live in California so A heater isn't all that nessasary, but I could get one if you think it is needed. Currently the main tank isn't using one I only use it durring the winter. The female has been only picing on him since the fins got damaged and he's been sick, oddly enough a male Cherry barb was the culprit I believe, as I have seen one chase him and nip at him before the fin damage. I'll try to go out today and get the QT tank. But when I add him back will the others attack him again?

I also have a red tail shark that mostly hides, but does chase fish from his hidding spot, he might have also been the culprit.

 

[ALW]

The shark could be the culpirt

 

[tangokitty]

I thought he could be. He is 7 years old though (the shark) So I'd hate to have to rehome him

 

[emmsy]

Hi mate. Did you get a Qtank?. When you put him back in the main tank, I don't think he will get picked on again, but you can never tell.

Emma

 

[tangokitty]

yeah he seemed a little freaked to be put in there, but he should be ok. Someone told me to get a flying fox to fight with the red tail shark. Would that be bad?