Scales Seem to Be Disappearing on Tropical Fish

Fish have amazing regenerative abilities. Most fish can regrow missing scales and even fins. However, despite this ability, you need to take missing scales seriously. Damage to your fish can be a sign of a number of situations that require your immediate attention.

  1. Fighting

    • Many fish can easily knock each other's scales off from fighting. You may not witness this, since aquarium fish get distracted from violence when "that big thing that feeds us" is in the room. Some species, like various cichlids and the betta, have a reputation for violence. If you start to see fish losing scales, do some research to double-check and make sure nothing in your tank has a reputation for pugnacity.

    Scale-Eaters

    • Additionally, some fish eat the scales off other fish. The bucktooth tetra does this. For some fish, this adaptation helps them survive in areas without a lot to eat. Instead of devouring their prey, this allows them to have a continuous source of food, since fish can regenerate scales without problems. However, in the confines of an aquarium, this behavior usually ends in the death of the prey fish, since he cannot get away and regrow his scales in peace. This concern only arises with a few specialized species of aquarium fish.

    Infection

    • Certain fungal and bacterial infections may also cost a fish scales. Most of these infections are "opportunists," organisms present in the aquarium water at all times that can only cause infection when something else goes wrong first. For example, these infections may happen after a fish has received damage in a fight. With an infection, the area missing the scales will typically have discoloration and possibly a fuzzy-looking texture. If you see these signs, you will have to take additional steps to ensure the health of your fish.

    Fixing It

    • If you don't see any sign of infection, a fish will probably heal from his injuries without complication. However, this assumes that the cause of the damage is not ongoing. If a fish is getting picked on by another fish, consider separating them or moving one to another aquarium. Rearranging the aquarium decorations can also reduce aggression by scrambling everyone's territories. If you see signs of infection, use aquarium antibiotics to treat it. You can procure aquarium antibiotics at most pet shops. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter.