Help! Infected fin!!

[Wildorca]

Hi everyone!
My azure damsel lost one of its pelvic fins a few days ago. I'm assuming my 6 line is the one to blame.
Today I noticed the stump where it used to be has a lot of white around it and the base is swollen. Is it infected? How do I treat it?
Thanks!

 

[GimpyFin]

Do you have any pictures?

 

[Wildorca]

I have tried to get a picture, but the little buggar is fast! I'm new, so I'm not sure how to post pictures here.

 

[tazdvl]

Sorry no help here from me, just thought it ironic Gimpyfin first answer.

 

[mav3rick478]

If it's standard fin rot as long as he's eating and your water quality is good it should heal fine. My Chrysus Wrasse jumped out one night and was out of the tank for I don't even know how long, put him back in and next morning he lost his tail. While area was white with a little red and tattered. Over a time period of 2 weeks it grew back. It took him a few days to start eating because of stress and learning to swim without a tail. Watching him trying to bury himself at night was painful. But he is back to normal and strong as ever.

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

 

[GimpyFin]

I have tried to get a picture, but the little buggar is fast! I'm new, so I'm not sure how to post pictures here.

If you have the picture on your computer, you can attach it with the "Paperclip" icon (Located when you click "Go Advanced" when doing a message.)

You can also upload the picture(s) to a site like photobucket and link it by just clicking the button to insert an image (Looks like a yellow portrait) and then pasting in the web link to the photo.)

 

[Wildorca]

Can you see my picture?

 

[Wildorca]

Here is another

 

[Sk8r]

It'll probably heal ok unless the peduncle (fleshy base) was wounded. One of mine lost most all his tail due to his stubborn refusal to cede a corner to a stronger damsel. They're now happily swimming together.

 

[Wildorca]

Well, it looks worse this morning. He's not moving the other pelvic fin, but he's still swimming around. My butthead 6 line wrasse keeps going after him though. I'm going to feed them today and see if he wants to eat.
Do I need to get him out to see if he heals? The only other tank I have is a 3 gallon nano for our mantis shrimp.

 

[GimpyFin]

I agree with sk8r, it will probably heal just fine if it was just the fin that was damaged. I got a trio of bartlett anthias and they got lymphocystis on their fins when I first got them and into QT. I had to carefully remove each one, lay them on a damp towel, and remove it gently with a razor. They all had pretty bad nippy fin afterward, but it grew back no problem.

On a side note, I think petco has the $1 per gallon sale on glass tanks, so you could get a fairly cheap 10 gallon tank if you need an extra to let him heal.

 

[Sk8r]

If he's being repeatedly attacked, he'll die, and if you still have the 6-line, the 6-line will kill him when you put him back in. The 6-line is a known problem, and I would really advise healing up the damsel, trading in the 6-line, and then trading in the damsel unless this is a 50 gallon tank.

 

[Wildorca]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have a 26 gallon bow face. I was told by the LFS, both the azure damsel and 6 line were great fish and very peaceful.
The damsel is the only one the 6 line has attacked. He has never bothered my clown.

 

[GimpyFin]

Sk8r is right, 6 lines are buttheads. A lot of people steer clear of them for that reason.

 

[Sk8r]

In a much larger tank you wouldn't have the problem, but you need fish that are absolutely mild-mannered or place-bound (like the clowns, who eventually choose a spot and defend it) to go in a small tank. The 6-line might be ok if you re-home the damsel and get no other fish for that tank. Azure damsels and 6-line will both defend territory aggressively, and the 6-line is winning.

 

[Wildorca]

Thank you for your help and suggestions. I'm going to talk to husband about sending the 6 line back to the LFS. We just have to catch the little bugger!
Here is a picture of my current tank.
It's 26 gallon bow front with about 35lbs of live rock and live sand/crushed coral.
Any other suggestions are welcome!!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good looking tank.

 

[OrQidz]

That's a pretty tank! Catching the six line will be difficult but he will kill the other fish. Having a couple different nets with a bigger net to try to herd him toward makes it a little easier.