Holes in sailfin pleco's "sail" ?

[equus_peduus]

I don't think these were there a week ago. Just happened to notice a few minutes ago as he sat with his dorsal fin up right against the glass... looks too smooth to be from some kind of trauma...?

Anyone seen this before? cause? Do I worry about it? will they fill in, or is he going to be holey forever?

 

[ansbfish]

no idea, never seen anything like that on a pleco

just had to say that is one nice looking pleco, got any full shots?

 

[equus_peduus]

just had to say that is one nice looking pleco, got any full shots?

Thanks Got him as a little 1-2" baby, no idea he was going to get this big... and now here I've gotten the 55ish tank mostly for him (well, the angels too, but if I was going to move across the country and could only take one fish, he'd be it )... around 10" long now, will probably need to upgrade tanks again at some point...

Couple pics here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=880956&postcount=8

and here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1158255&postcount=1

There are more on my computer... one of these days I'll post some...

 

[daayda3]

looks like he was torn from wood or a rock
what decor do you have?

 

[equus_peduus]

Two pieces of slate (one of which is a good size and siliconed to three rocks so that it's a place for plec to hang out upside down, one of which is almost flat against the bottom (propped up by a very small rock), two pieces of driftwood (one quite small, one new and decent sized and as far as i can tell, no sharp edges), plants... gravel...

I suppose it's possible he caught himself on one of the pieces of slate as he was maneuvering around them, though both have been in the same aquarium as he for years. He is outgrowing his upside-down spot though. *sigh* will have to replace sometime...

 

[silentskream]

i've seen this happen to many plecos.. usually from somebody nipping the fins or from getting caught on something. it should grow back quite easily.. although i would suggest you keep an eye on it because if it starts turning red or furry then he may be getting a secondary infection.

 

[equus_peduus]

i've seen this happen to many plecos.. usually from somebody nipping the fins or from getting caught on something. it should grow back quite easily.. although i would suggest you keep an eye on it because if it starts turning red or furry then he may be getting a secondary infection.

Hopefully it's not nipping... the fish he's in with right now are species (most of them individuals) he's been with for at least a year, most of them three or four...

I will definately keep an eye on it... though of course, he never has his sail up when I want it to be!

 

[RoseFishWatcher]

I'd just keep an eye on it (for infections). I have a small royal plec that rips his tail all the time (minor squabbles with his BN tankmates), but he always heals up pretty quick.

 

[Carp37]

I've read (either on planet catfish or scotcat- sorry can't remember offhand) that holes in the dorsal fin of sailfin plecs can often be as a result of poor water quality- what are your water parameters?

As to whether the holes are permanent, my sailfin had one small hole in his dorsal fin when I got him 5 months ago, and it's still there even though he's doubled in size.

 

[jaysen]

i had a few sailfins that were 24" each and they always fought and knocked into things causing holes in their fins. it usually just resolved itself. see if it gets bigger or more spread.