Oh no...

carriej · 01-26-2008, 06:08 PM

So today I picked up my 2 kribensis cichlids I had gotten my LFS to order in for me.
I paid for them and all that..went home, acclimated them into my tank...Both were swimming around, grazing on my rocks, just chilling normally. I went and did some stuff around the house and sat to admire my new arrivals. I noticed one was swimming a little different, kinda crooked but barely noticeable, then I noticed he was missing a pectoral fin...It seems healthy other than this, I called my LFS and they are going to credit my the 7.45 I paid for it, but that's not the thing...Will it be ok? Will the fin grow back? What should I do, there isn't even a stub or anything..it's just GONE, nothing at all..It looks like it might have been born this way, since there is no marks and all other fins are full and colorful and healthy looking. The fish is nice and healthy looking also....Will it eventually die? ...Help

Loman · 01-26-2008, 07:31 PM

carriej,

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I called my LFS and they are going to credit my the 7.45 I paid for it, but that's not the thing...

This says a lot about the LFS you are dealing with. It is an important point in that regard.

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The fish is nice and healthy looking also....Will it eventually die?

All fish will eventually die the more interesting question is if it will die soon from this issue

.

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Will it be ok? ...
Will the fin grow back? ....
there isn't even a stub or anything..it's just GONE, nothing at all..It looks like it might have been born this way, since there is no marks and all other fins are full and colorful and healthy looking.

It is difficult to say if it will be okay. If it is a birth defect as you suspect then it has been alright thus far and seems to have adapted, If it was a recent injury then it might not do so well. IMO Only time will answer that question. If we go with your theory that it is a birth defect then I do not think it will grow back. I doubt it would grow back even if it is an injury that is severe as describe.

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What should I do

I would treat it normally and watch. Keep it in peaceful surroundings so it does not deal with aggressive behavior if it is injured. And watch it and see what happens

carriej · 01-26-2008, 07:55 PM

After further inspection with a magnifying glass, There is a little bit of a fin left! I am glad...It's something anyway, I am not sure what happened to this fin. It was obviously missing before I got it...Since I had just picked it up from my LFS today, and she had them in their own tank... Maybe something happened during shipping. Donna (LFS owner) is always very good. I go in a few times a week to see new stock and usually buy a little something. Things like this happen sometimes even at a reputable LFS. She never hesitated a second or even ask me for proof. I have known her for years, I graduated with her daughter. The fish seems to be making fine without it. It's clear so I didn't see it with just my bare eye, and even now when I look without the glass I can't see anything. But..it is there. So let's hope it grows back, and if not..I just will have a gimpy little cichlid

carriej · 01-29-2008, 10:38 AM

UPDATE:

Just thought I would update. I am not sure my little gimpy friend is going to make it. The other kribensis started chasing it and picking on it quite bad, so I isolated the poor girl in a breeding net. She's in there now just kind of resting on the bottom of the net, she does seem better today than yesterday. Her color is more normal, not so splotchy. She also seems more alert. I've got a 10 gallon running and should be ready in a few days if she still is not better she can have her own little tank for the time being. That is, if I don't lose her.