I have a 55 gallon with 15 2-3" Demasoni and 6 3" Cherry Red Zebras. They've all been in the tank about 2 months. Recently, I've noticed a handful of the Dems have nipped fins. I know that they're generally buttheads, but should this be a red flag or is it par for the course with Dems? I don't want to miss an early warning sign and have the aggression escalate, but if this is just how they are, I'll deal with it. When I watch the Demasoni, I don't have anybody hiding excessively and everybody comes running at feeding times. There's plenty of chasing, but I've never witnessed a big fight. I suspect that I have two holding female Dems and a holding red zebra as well. Advice?
Fin Nipping Demasoni
- Thread starter KLGFCG
- Start date
Medicate
Medicate for bacterial and fungal infections such as tail rot just for the fact that you notice something wrong. I had some nipping going on and my green barb developed severe tail rot. Don't make the same mistake I did. Post a picture of your tank so we can see the ornament arrangement as well.
Medicate for bacterial and fungal infections such as tail rot just for the fact that you notice something wrong. I had some nipping going on and my green barb developed severe tail rot. Don't make the same mistake I did. Post a picture of your tank so we can see the ornament arrangement as well.
Tail rot is usually caused by bad water quality. I wouldn't treat anything unless a sign of disease starts. Just keep the water really clean and keep and eye on aggression. Demasoni are VERY aggressive with one another. Nipped fins are pretty much expected. Also don't be surprised if you loose a couple due to aggression. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places so they can escape one another. You have a good high stocking of demasoni which should control most of the aggression.
You should never wait for a disease to become fully blown. A fish with 1/4 of its tail missing should be medicated immediately. The infection is already progressing internally more than you can see.
http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/finrot.html
for further reading
I am treating a fish with tail rot right now with the same methods accept I am not adding aquarium salt which I didn't think of. The green barb which became infected did so after constant badgering and nipping to the point of weakness from a tiger barb.
http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/finrot.html
for further reading
I am treating a fish with tail rot right now with the same methods accept I am not adding aquarium salt which I didn't think of. The green barb which became infected did so after constant badgering and nipping to the point of weakness from a tiger barb.
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I have to disagree. Treated when it isn't needed is expensive and stressful for the fish. Many times it can also damage your beneficial bacteria. I didn't say wait until it's full blown, I said wait until there are actual signs of disease.
I had an OB zebra that had her tails TOTALLY ripped off by the other fish and she had many fins damaged as well. The tail healed up and grew back with water changes alone. I used no meds and it never got infected.
Fin nips are common in a mbuna tank. I usually have at least one fish with a notch out of it's tail. It would be ridiculous to dump meds in the tank every time I saw a fin nip. Pretty much every time it heals on it's own. I just make sure to stay on top of water changes.
I just don't think and neither do the scientists that made the medication that it is silly to medicate after noticing something abnormal. The products are completely safe for the fish and no one is going to tell you that aquarium salt is going to harm your fish if it looks injured. I'm glad I didn't take the outlook you did or my green barb would be dead right now.
nipped fins with this species are common. I have 20 in a species only tank and they look like they were run through a blender sometimes. They are known for aggression on one another. I've had them for a year and so far no deaths, no infections, and no treatments. I keep the water changed and that's it.
I would add a few more demasoni and you might see less nipped fins. Also, Red Zebra can also be aggressive, so keep an eye on them.
I wouldn't medicate. Having demasoni, this is normal. Just make sure that no one is extremely beat up. If so, put that fish in a hospital tank and then medicate.
If Demasoni owners medicated whenever they saw nipped fins, they would be medicating 365 days a year.
I wouldn't medicate. Having demasoni, this is normal. Just make sure that no one is extremely beat up. If so, put that fish in a hospital tank and then medicate.
If Demasoni owners medicated whenever they saw nipped fins, they would be medicating 365 days a year.