Fins grow back??

[CandiBug2]

Will a fish whose fins have been damaged by other fish or have been the victim of a disease, grow back?

[anonapersona]

With fresh clean water they will grow back rapidly.

I've seen split fins mend 2 inch long tears in a week, and fins eroded by bacterial infection repair 1/4" length in a week or two.

Sometimes the repair was not quite flat, as in the fancy goldfish who had a 1/4 inch chunk turn clear then disappear, it grew back puckered. I can't promise the water was clean enough on that one, though, could have been a factor.

[Tetratastic]

I had a phantom tetra that got a terrible fin infection after being attacked by my serpaes. After nearly dying in the quarantine tank (he floated on his side at the surface for about 24 hours before perking up), he began healing up nicely.

I would say it took less than a month before the fish looked more or less normal again... the fins look virtually the same, no puckers or anything, but even after six months the fins are more rounded than they were - meaning the fins' tips don't come to a point as much as before. The fish is healthy and happy now... and more wary of the serpaes!

[MrGoodbytes]

Unless the fin is damaged at the base it will grow back fine. It will be deformed if the rays are damaged also.

Graeme

[kelleyincolorad]

I used Mela-Fix for fish with infected fins. They grew back very quickly and actually look fuller than they were before.

I also used this stuff for a fish with red sores. It cleared it up within two days.

love that stuff!

Kelley in Colorado

[WaterBaby]

My Bettas pectoral fin was shreaded, but is mending nicely. Just remember to keep the water parameters optimal and you shouldn't have a problem. Just keep an eye out while it's mending and watch for infection.

[DizBjOhN104]

100% of coarse they will grow back if u really take care of it rilly well and give it meds

[pinballqueen]

if the stump of muscles and nerves gets damaged at the base of the fin, it will not grow back, and if the rays are damaged, they may grow back crooked or malformed, but usually infections are caught and cleared up well before that point so yes, their fins will grow back and tears will be repaired. Their fins are skin, and will heal just like if you cut yourself.