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i have a piranha that is just one inche and it has a riped gill. u cen see all the red inside.
Will that heal automaticly?

he seems really healthy

Not much you can do about that one. I dont think anyone can know if the gill cover will repair itself or not, but fish are generally pretty good at regenerating tissue.Dont think a vet would help even with surgery. Thankfully since the fish is young it stands more change of replicating the lost cells, and if he is debilitated to some degree he will have a better chance of coming to terms with a disability such as reduced respiration, but he may always be more susceptible to infection, so youll have to keep his aquaria really clean.

Bit of pimafix and melafix cant hurt to keep off the infection while youre waiting for it to heal. Be vigilant for signs of infection.

You might wanna quarantine him if hes in with other piranhas, the sight of that open wound might be more than they can resist.

Fingers crossed, if you can keep him from infection the prognosis is probably good.



Last edited by longhairedgit at 28-Nov-2005 03:09

Well, first of all, it's better not to speak broken english when asking for help. It helps the answer-bearer understand the question clearly. I'm not going to flame you and leave though. I think your piranha will be fine. Just watch and make sure there isn't any profuse bleeding or other problems that could arise from such an injury.

Awwies thats mean, not everyone is terminally verbose, or especially literate .At least he had the sense to ask for help, that in itself is worthy of note, - unlike persecuting people for spelling.

Hint - (word has a spellchecker, just copy and paste it in if recriminations annoy thee )

I think at one point or another I have had a fish that has had a torn gill cover, they seemed to have healed on its own, so melafix, or stress coat can help speed the process along.

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

add some aquarium salt and raise the temp. to about 80 degrees F. piranha have an amazing regeneration rate. a torn gill cover isnt exactly life threatening(sp) but the aquarium salt will help prevent infection

"Well, first of all, it's better not to speak broken english when asking for help. It helps the answer-bearer understand the question clearly."

Lol. Internets. Serious business. If you have the analytical "prowess" to be able to go all grammar-nazi on his butt, I sure you can easily decode what he's trying to say. As long as you understand him perfectly, I see no reason to draw any and all attention on to his "less than perfect" internet english.