ConvictCaper

Hello, friends--

I've got long-finned black skirts with, you guessed it, tattered fins. I've just had them in a hospital tank for two weeks, dosing for fin rot, but they've not improved -- perhaps even gotten worse.

So, after reading a thread or two on here, I realize they've probably just been nipping each other (my suspicion in the first place, as they don't seem poorly at all), and have probably been nipping even more in the hospital tank.

I will try to source some Vitachem in the UK for fin regeneration, but meantime, other suggestions have been about getting them in a bigger tank to prevent further fin damage.

I've got a 40-gallon with 5 black skirts, 2 gouramis, some harlequin rasboras, cherry barbs, and cardinal tetras. There's also a well-behaved female cichlid, though nipping wouldn't be out of either her nor the gouramis' usual mode of operating! I change the water weekly (30%, roughly) and the water testing kit says all limits are good.

As a larger tank isn't going to happen, and I seem to be doing all the right things with regard to keeping the water clean, I wonder if I shouldn't sweat it and realize it's just a case of Blackskirts will be Blackskirts??

Thanks for advice/assurance.
ConvictCaper

Lucy

You've got a couple of suspects that could be fin nipping. You might want to try adding more hiding places and breaking up the line of sight.
Some extra stress coat and good water conditions will help the fins heal also.
You'll want to make sure you prevent infection.

TedsTank

Lots of plants and hiding places also will help. I checked your tank stats and all the fish weren't listed, if you would update it, we could help a little better.

Some of your fish are nippers, If you had good hiding places, no one particular fish should take all the nipping...clumps of plants give them places to go around and avoid too much bullying.

ConvictCaper

Sorry about the tank stats, guys -- I've got two tanks and only listed my cichlid tank (which has nothing but a very prolific pair of convicts).

I'll take you up on your suggestions to plant more heavily to allow escape options, and to get more stress coat in the tank. Thanks a bunch.

CC

ilikefish

You could also rearange your decor so that those fish who set up their 'territories' are territorieless and there will be less fin nipping. Just a thought.