Hillstream Dorsal Damage

[mikev]

Hi,

Just now noticed that one of my Beaufortias seems to be missing a part of the dorsal fin. Does not look like a disease, more like a piece has been actually torn out, and probably not even recently.

Can hillstream fights (topping?) result in this kind of damage? Does it heal?

The hillstream tankmates are Sewellias, Beaufortias, and one Crossostoma (who is probably not guilty: too fat and lazy lately). The fish is fairly small, maybe the smallest tank inhabitant.

[Jim Powers]

I have never seen that type of damage from hillstream fighting.
Are you sure that the fish wasn't like that when you got it?
If its not inflamed or infected, I wouldn't worry about it.

[mikev]

Thanks, Jim,

No, I had this fish for a year....

Darn. It is not inflamed/infected, and the fish behaves normally, but this means I have something unsafe in the tank....either powerhead or plecos.

[Graeme Robson]

One of mine has a nick in it's dorsal fin also. And would you believe the cause? It was a plant! Two males fighting and one flicked away with catching the side part of a stem. Ouch!

[mikev]

Wow...

I guess I should just reconcile to occasional random damage and don't take this too seriously...... the alternative -- keeping hillstreams in nice smooth safe goldfish bowls -- may cause other problems...

[Martin Thoene]

It's quite possibly fight damage. One of my P. cheni males has his first couple of dorsal rays serarated from the rest of the fin. He's ALWAYS fighting.....never gives up.

Martin.