Fin Re-Growth

[afss]

can tangs regrow fins? or for that matter can any fish re grow fins? I know that banggais can re- grow the little tasstle on the top of their dorsal fins, and I know that some fish can re-grow scales in diseased areas.
thanks
Scott

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: afss ]</p>

 

[afss]

anyone?

 

[afss]

anyone?

 

[fishfarmer]

If the fin is severely clipped at the base, it probably won't grow back or be deformed if it does. If the fin is only partially damaged and still has some fin rays it should grow back fine.

 

[Jefe12234]

I had a Purple Pseudochromis who was harassed by its tankmates to the point where its fins were practically gone. I put it in another tank and they grew back completely within a couple weeks if I remember correctly. I would assume the same is true for other fish.

 

[hectina]

My purple tang will heal split fins in less than 24 hours. It takes him about 48 hrs to grow back notched out areas.

 

[afss]

thanks for the replies

by cliped at the base, how far from the base do you mean. The reason I ask is there is a fish at the lfs with severly damaged fins pobably 1-2 cm left on a yellow tang. tang is probably 10 cm long. It looks to be in decent health aside from the fins, and If they will grow back even some I would like to take it. sucker for a rescue.
thanks
Scott

 

[KW]

I bought an IO sailfin tang, from the LFS, about 6 years ago that had fin damage from aggressive tank mates. Some of the damage took a long time to heal and the fish still has some visible scars.

The fish would most likely have died if I had left it at the LFS.

 

[fishfarmer]

That's a tough one to answer without actually seeing the fish, but if there are no fin rays or nubs of fin rays, just a stump I would say it is totally clipped. If there is still a little fin ray material left it may grow back. I see a lot of eroded fins where I work(trout hatchery). Most stumps don't grow back. I also occasionally have to clip fins for marking purposes. We don't clip close to the body, just take the fin rays off. That usually stunts the growth or deforms the fin.

 

[afss]

yeah, that is my concern. The fish had come in from some one who didn't look after the tank. 3 fish came in seriously ill. 2 tangs with little fin left, and a coral beauty with lateral line erosion. I already took the coral beauty, and his color has improved amazingly, and the areas of errosin seem to be shrinking in olny a week. The tang that is left looks more like a swiming box now than a triangle. The color is slowly faded over the last 3 weeks at the store, and now is more of an off yellow than brioght yellow. Aside from the fins and the fading it seems very energetic. I figure the fading is from being in a smaller tank and little to no real live rock to forage from. Will tanks touch hair algea? I think i might get it even if the fins won't grow back just to try.
any way thanks
Scott
BTW what is a normal price for a yellow tang. its been a while since I've been to a store that has them. If I buy it i want to beat them down as much as i can.
Thanks
Scott