M. electricus with damaged barbels

[DesOceans]

Hello,

I recently adopted an electric catfish (about 6" long) and everything was going incredibly well until I added new fish to his tank (55 gal)

THe new fish broke with Ich. A vet I know who works at an aquarium recommended that I salt the tank to 4ppt and add formalin. I was unsure, Zap being a naked cat, but she said it would be fine.

Unfortunately, I lost the fish and Zap's barbels were severely "burned". Immediately, successive water changes were done to change out 100% of the tank water. I have been doing daily additions of stress coat and just read about Melafix. I added that yesterday, and he seems SO much better. He ate today and is back in his tree trunk.

On his barbels....the formalin seemed to have just wrecked them, about 1/2 way along, they turned white and limp. Overnight, after the melafix, he has lost the damaged tissue and now has about1/2 to 1cm little stumps.

Does anyone know if we can expect the barbels to grow back? This little fish has been through a lot, at the aquarium he came from his tank mates attacked him and he lost his tail. I feel really horrible about what I did, b/c in my profession, I should know better. Anyway, JUst hoping his barbels will come back.

Thanks,
I'll post some pictures of him when I take some, he's really an amazing fish with lots of character.

[Silurus]

The barbels should heal, given proper nutrition and clean water.

[pictus_man_77]

Hope he heals up ok
my pictus lost a barbel, but it did grow back, 2 months id say