Tailfin Gone NEED HELP!!!

[sawyer1206]

I have 2 juvenile Jewels and 2 juvenile Texas cichlids in a 30 gallon aquarium. They have been together for about 2 weeks. One of the Texas Cichlids has no tailfin left at all. I knew there would be some aggression but not to this extent. I placed the wounded cichlid in one on my fry containers to separate him from the others.

Should I treat the tank with Melafix to aid in fin re-growth?

Once he is healed how should I reintroduce him into the tank?

 

[liv2padl]

Once he is healed how should I reintroduce him into the tank?

you should NOT reintroduce him to the tank and in fact, should remove BOTH texas cichlids and return them to the LFS. this species cannot thrive in such a small tank.

 

[balton777]

you should NOT reintroduce him to the tank and in fact, should remove BOTH texas cichlids and return them to the LFS. this species cannot thrive in such a small tank.

I agree with live2paddle. Not only will they not thrive, unless this is only a growout tank, you'll stunt their growth and they'll die a early miserable death. I'm not sure about jewels but I personally owned a 10" Texas that I think was still growing when I traded him. Best wishes to you and your little fish.

*edit* relooking at the pic...it doesn't look like a Texas Cichlid.

 

[sawyer1206]

Thank you for your advice on getting rid of my fish but I do have plans for them. The 40 gallon hexagon tank (pic1) is only a temporary home for them. I am currently working on a 75 gallon (pic2) that will be there home in the future, and by some reason if they out grow that I can always put them in my 200 gallon aquarium (pic3).

I am not trying to be rude it’s just that these are my first cichlids and I thought I would post in here to get some insight as to there behavior. I would not have bought the fish if I thought I would not have the means to take care of them.

 

[balton777]

Hey Sawyer...I don't think you're being rude. I thought it might be a growout tank and gave you the benefit of the doubt. Nice tanks btw and welcome to cichlid keeping...they're addictive ya know. lol That 240 will make an awesome new world cichlid tank. Where is Angleton, TX?

 

[sawyer1206]

I know you gave me the benefit of doubt and I thank you for that.

Angleton is a :30 drive South of Houston on 288(on a Sunday morning when everyone else is either at church on in bed nursing a hang over.LOL)

You are 100% correct about the hobby being addictive. It all started with a small 10 gallon aquarium with guppies for my daughter and now I have 4 tanks up and running and 2 on the work bench. :help:

 

[mandy-2007]

to tell u the truth it doesn't loook like a tex at all maybe its a jack dempsey just looking at my one . . . . hope it gets better soon

 

[grannylvsfish]

very nice tanks! welcome

where did you get the cool backgrounds for the tanks?

 

[sawyer1206]

where did you get the cool backgrounds for the tanks?[/QUOTE]

I made them. I like to buy used aquariums from ebay or Craiglist and build the stands and canopies myself. I really love the DIY aspect of the hobby. I would say I have spent on average 80 hours on each aquarium I have set up. Well, all but the latest one I just finished for my son. I just painted the background blue on his. His 30 gallon has been running for about 3 weeks now and we choose to put Tiger Barbs in his tank. I really like the Tiger barbs. I talked my mother into a 50 Gallon so I will be working on it for the next month or so.

If I could quit my day job and do this for a living I would. My best friend owns an aquatic business and he tells me the competition is tough. LOL


This is a pic of my sons 30 gallon. I got he tank for $20.00 on Ebay and built the stand and canopy myself.

 

[pl*co]

Yes, to your question about Melafix. It helped my Convict in the same situation. Don't be surprised if the tail grows back only partially. It just depends on how much of the base is left. My Convict's took a while to get started and finally ended up in the shape of a smile when the fish is viewed from the side. Looks like your fish still has some base left across the full width of what was his tail, so it should eventually be OK.