Rosy Barb Nipped Fins

I was in a situation where I only had two rosy barbs, and that was not working out (surprise, surprise!). The bigger one (Conor) was picking on the littler one (Elliott) mercilessly. Fins were nipped horribly, and the scales looked awful. I went to the lfs, and they had 2 rosy barbs left, so I got them both (Steve and Skippy), hoping that would take some of the heat off of Elliott. My plan worked well...too well. Conor was still the biggest, but he also had the most flowing fins...and Steve and Skippy nipped him up a bit. Not nearly as bad as Elliott's were, but some definite damage. They soon calmed down though, and although they all play and chase each other, it's not nearly as sassy anymore. I thought maybe Conor's fins would get better, but they haven't. They haven't gotten worse though.

I really don't want to medicate the whole tank, and I really don't want to stress him out with a separation...not to mention that I worry that Steve and Skippy might just start all over again upon his return...or that he might turn on them. They're all getting along so well now.

How horrible is it of me to just leave him with his fins like that? Or do I really need to do something?

 

I was in a situation where I only had two rosy barbs, and that was not working out (surprise, surprise!).  The bigger one (Conor) was picking on the littler one (Elliott) mercilessly.  Fins were nipped horribly, and the scales looked awful.  I went to the lfs, and they had 2 rosy barbs left, so I got them both (Steve and Skippy), hoping that would take some of the heat off of Elliott.  My plan worked well...too well.  Conor was still the biggest, but he also had the most flowing fins...and Steve and Skippy nipped him up a bit.  Not nearly as bad as Elliott's were, but some definite damage.  They soon calmed down though, and although they all play and chase each other, it's not nearly as sassy anymore.  I thought maybe Conor's fins would get better, but they haven't.  They haven't gotten worse though.

I really don't want to medicate the whole tank, and I really don't want to stress him out with a separation...not to mention that I worry that Steve and Skippy might just start all over again upon his return...or that he might turn on them.  They're all getting along so well now.

How horrible is it of me to just leave him with his fins like that?   Or do I really need to do something?

I think you run an underground fish fighting

 

Nooo....never!!!! Although, I think the fish started rumors that I'm a pleco killer, which is why my pleco seems so scared of me. : There's obviously no other explanation!

 

They will grow back over time, especially if he's in a less stressful environment. Also adding something like to the water and to their food has shown to help in several peoples tanks on this forum.

 

Nooo....never!!!!   Although, I think the fish started rumors that I'm a pleco killer, which is why my pleco seems so scared of me.   :  There's obviously no other explanation! 

No, it could be true you run an underground fish fighting!!

 

I would add the vitachem daily. we have been doing that with a female betta we rescued from petco who had more than 50% of her analfin missing from apparent bites, along with some scale loss and pectoral fin damage on her left side. in 1 week, her analfin has clear regrowth over the entire missing area (with a good bit of that already getting color) of the analfin and she's looking much better.. we've only been treating her with the vitachem daily and clean water treated with prime and novaqua+.