Can Fish Still Live With a Broken Fin?

It might seem odd from a human perspective, but to most fish, injured fins are not a big problem. Usually, they heal without incident. However, you need to keep an eye out for signs of complications so you can intervene if the injuries lead to more serious problems.

  1. Causes of Fin Injuries

    • Most aquarium decorations have rounded edges to prevent injuries.

      Aquarium fish can injure their fins in a number of ways. Sharp-edged aquarium ornaments can injure delicate fish fins. Additionally, netting and transporting a fin can cause injuries. Often, aquarium fish will injure each other by fighting or nipping at each others' fins. Always research your fish before you get them, since aggression levels vary by species.

    Treating Fin Injuries

    • Pufferfish are notorious fin-nippers.

      You have several ways to deal with injured fins. First, you want to remove whatever caused the injury. You may have to remove territorial fish if they continue to beat on other fish. Oddly, you can diffuse some fin-nipping fish by keeping them in groups of least six. Most fin-nipping fish would rather chase other members of their species around instead of bothering other fish. Above all, you need to provide clean water, so keep up on your water changes if you see injured fish. In most cases, you do not need to take any medical steps unless you see signs of fin rot.

    Fin Rot

    • Overcrowding can damage water quality and promote fin rot.

      If your fish has a fin injury, you need to watch out for fin rot. Fin rot is an opportunistic infection, meaning the bacteria and fungi that cause this infection are usually present in an aquarium, but only cause infection when fish are already injured. Typically, poor aquarium water quality also fosters this infection. In fin rot, you will see a fuzzy or slimy margin to the fin. The fin will also get a ragged look to it, whereas injuries tend to have a cleaner look. Fin rot requires immediate intervention, since the infection can quickly eat a fin all the way down to the base and spread to the fish's body.

    Treating Fin Rot

    • In the U.S., most aquarium antibiotics can be purchased without a vet's prescription.

      The quickest way to treat fin rot is with aquarium antibiotics. You can purchase these at most pet shops. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, since many aquarium antibiotics can be toxic if misused or overdosed. You'll also want to remove any zeolite or activated carbon, since these provide chemical filtration that can suck antibiotics out of the water column.