Firefishes dorsal ray missing!

[Rlumenator]

I have had three firefish for three months now. Early on they dueled it out and split up- (2) on one side, and one on the other side of the reef. They do sometimes hang together recently, for short periods of time. Today, I found the single one with most of his dorsal "ray" missing- prob. 1/4 inch left - this after 3 mobths of nothing! If I put him in the quarantine tank- will it grow back? Thanks, Dawn.

 

[Nautilus1]

I would not move him to that quarantine tank. If its not infected just let it be

 

[Rlumenator]

Don't you think whatever bit it off will take more?

 

[Anonymous]

It will grow back.


Fish lose pieces of fins, tails, dorsals, etc. all the time. Sometimes they cut it on a rock and it naturally drops off so it doesn't become an infected chunk of dead fin tissue. Sometimes another fish nips it off. Sometimes a crab or whatever gets a piece.

Don't worry.

 

[Anonymous]

I would not move him to that quarantine tank. If its not infected just let it be

Also, I agree with this. No need to move a fish just becaise a part of a fin falls off.

 

[fyrefysh]

I think he/she will be worse off now having moved him into quarantine and back to your main tank. I sure hope he/she makes it. It is now the newbie once again.

 

[Anonymous]

FWIW Dawn...having been had the same situation exactly, I'd consider perminently removing it of the harassment continues.

If the other two have paired off (male/female) they may continue fighting with the odd fish. I had a trio that did exactly that and the mated pair actually killed the singlton.

 

[Rlumenator]

Lawdawg- do I move him to the qt- heal him, and then give to my lfs? I've never had a fin "fall" off a fish- and the only crabs are small hermits.They seemed to be getting along ok- no harrassment since the beginning, so this surprised me. Thanks, Dawn.

 

[Lutra1]

That happened to my friend's firefish, and my firefish had its entire backfin bitten off by somebody. Hers is fine, but mine ended up dying from stress. I'd be more worried about the others attacking it and it stressing out than the loss of a fin.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know the 100% sure fire answer Dawn, only what I have observed in my tank. He will probably heal just fine in the main tank IF the pair isn't picking on him.

I'd watch things, it'll be obvious if the pair is after the single fish. If so then do something at that time. If it ain't broke, don't fix it :lol: but simply be aware it could happen.

 

[Rlumenator]

Thank you, Lutra & Lawdawg, I will observe first.