missing fin

[hp10BII]

I have a couple of different corys and a small school of rummy nose tetras in a q-tank right now. The other day, I noticed a sterbai cory with only a stump of a pectoral fin left, I'm pretty sure I bought all my corys with fins intact. The tank is bare bottom, a bunch of java moss and a ceramic pot laying on it's side.

I'm guessing that a rummy nose tetra may have taken a little nip at him/her during their feeding frenzys - those tetras are fast!! The cory seems fine, if he isn't doing the cory dance, he's laying on top of the heater.

So, any chance that the fin will grow back? I've been doing extra water changes in the meantime. I've been eyeing all my other corys to make sure they're o.k. Anything else I should be doing?

I've spotted some pygmy corys and some nice Cardinal Tetras but I'll quarantine them separately. The last time I q-tanked them together, the Cardinals wiped out half the school of pygmys before I realized what was happening.

[Melody]

Its kind of an odd fin to have nipped, but that doesn't mean it wasn't the case. Never had nippy Rummies though. I don't buy into the theory that all Tetras are nippers - not even sure where such a blanket statement came from. That's one big group to be labelling...lol...even my big Congos were gentle giants. I've never seen aggressive Cardinals either actually - I'd suspect a disease in the Cory's first. Fish will often pick at sick tankmates. Its how nature protects the population from disease. My Cardinals are the big chickens of the tank...lol.

Anyways, check the area for signs of fungus or infection, blood streaks etc, just in case. Otherwise, you're on the right track with the water changes and I'd add a bit of salt. There are still those that say Cory's can't handle salt and those who say its a myth. I figure it probably depends on the Cory, how slowly you acclimate them and if you pour it in the tank without predisolving. Probably a situational/species sensitivity thing - varying reports usually are. Personal call :biggrin: .

Edit: And yes, the fin will grow back, sometimes not to its former glory, but it will be there.

[hp10BII]

Thanks, Melody. I don't think the tetras intent were to nip fins. When I drop food, they go nuts and peck at everything that has the slightist resemblence of food, whether it be mts, tank debris or a cory's oh so pretty orange flashy fin. Such is competition for food in a school of fish.

I'll try some salt at the next water change.

[Melody]

That certainly could be the case - they always feed mid-level in my tanks, but fish fresh out of stores are often more aggressive feeders at first. I supposed due the competition in their often crowded store tanks.

I hope he makes a full recovery. They're an especially adorable Cory :) .

[Edgezilla]

I really shoudl browse through the forums. Anyways, I had a missing pectoral fin on a Corydoras Gossei once.. not sure how the fin disappeared, but it was there when I first got the first. The pectoral fin never grew back. If the fin was damage, it would heal, but a broken fin (a stump) never grew for me.

[Melody]

Really? I've never had a fin missing or injured that hasn't grown back. Very interesting. I suppose if the tissue itself was damaged through an infection or whatever, it wouldn't be able to grow back. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that a fin can regenerate but not reappear ;) .

This is what I love about forums - you get all sorts of different experiences that make you go 'hmmm...' .

And yes, you should browse the forums more often - you have lots of good stuff to share. :smile:

How about an update, Mr. HP?

[Edgezilla]

Just to clarify

I am not sure what that part of the fin is call, but it is the orange fin. The one that is perpendicular to the body. If that thick fin is broken, the whole fin will never grow back. If the soft part of the fin is damage, fray, split, etc, it will grow back.

[Melody]

The orange fin on a Sterbai is the pectoral.:yes:

[Edgezilla]

I thought there is another word just to describe the very thick part of the fin and not the whole pectoral fin.

[Melody]

I'm sure you're right - my detailed fish anatomy needs work...lol....I think I know what you're talking about but the name escapes me. Somebody go find Mr. Mykiss :D .

[CACAdmin]

I went in search of an answer. From what I gather, the pectoral fin ray is attached to the pectoral fin girdle (in other words the 'shoulder' of the fish). Now of course, Mr. mykiss will be able to elaborate (or correct me if need be ;) ) when he can find the time.

In my search, though I came across some links to some fish terminology which might prove helpful:
http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/glossary.htm
http://www.infovisual.info/02/034_en.html

[Melody]

I keep thinking that the particular 'thick' part he's talking about is referred to as a 'spine' as opposed to rays, but where I got that idea I don't know :Embarassing: .

[hp10BII]

Well, "Stumpy" is still stumpy. Took me awhile to find him because I've already transferred him to the main school of corys. So there's a little 2 mm section of something (I'll let you guys fill in the blank here) where his pectoral fin used to be, so it doesn't seem like anything has grown much more.

Doesn't seem to bother him though, he just works a little harder to compensate.

[CACAdmin]

Terminology aside, I glad to hear he's doing ok.:yes:

[Edgezilla]

oops. was so busy trying to figureo ut what that part of the fin is call I forgot to mentioned what happend to finless gossei. yea. the pectoral fin on corydoras doesn't affect the movement as much as on other fish. pectoral finless cory can move around the tank with the best of the finned cory. the fin will never grow back though..

[Melody]

Well its good that they can compensate at least. A tough little fish overall. :smile: