Silver Dollar's Have Torn Tails

[twodaend]

I've been looking at my 4 SD's trying to figure out why their tails are all torn up. I though it may be the oscar doing it, but today I found out today that it is each of the SD's doing to one another, fighting I guess.

I had the light off and observed them, and notice that ever now and then they would take a nip at one another. Especially 1 in particular which I'm guessing the the more dominate one. I was wondering if their fins would grow back. All of their tail fins are pretty much split in half more like V shaped along with some of their bottom red fins.

I was wondering if I go get and some MelaFix would help? I read that it helps repair fins, but I'm not sure if that means only repair fin rot or damage fins due to fighting.

 

[plah831]

Melafix will help, but I think you need to eliminate the cause first. Otherwise you're going to have to keep treating for the symptom, while the aggression continues

By the way, I've had healthy fish repair torn fins on their own in less than two days! This was because one fish's dorsal fin got torn when he was startled and tore around the tank. So if they're not exposed to chronic stress, their fins will heal very easily.

 

[twodaend]

I can't really think of a cause. I thought SD's where not aggressive. They are in a 75 gallon with 1 Tiger Oscar. The SD's are about 3.5" - 4" and the O is about 3", so space should not be an issue.

My O shows no sings of the SD's going after him even though he is smaller.

 

[RockabillyChick]

your tank is overstocked. when that oscar gets full sized, he will be just perfect in the 75 by himself. silver dollars get about 6" and they should be in a larger school than just 4. they won't have enough room in a 75g.

 

[plah831]

I can't really think of a cause. I thought SD's where not aggressive.

I was just going by your description, that you believe they're doing it to each other. That sounds like aggression to me.

I'm not trying to be unfriendly. It's just you said yourself that they're picking on each other, so that doesn't sound like an ideal setup for the long-term.

 

[fishcatch22]

I think your oscar may be the culprit, since your aquarium is overstocked and oscars don't do well in OS situations. i'd reccomend returning either the oscar or the SDs to solve your problem.