new Upside Down cat has broken spine

[darthrook]

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can help ...

I've just bought a 4" synodontis eupterus from my LFS and after closer inspection, it seems his front spine on his dorsal fin is broken about half way up. You can see a small piece of cartilage where it's broken and the top half of the filament is flopping around.

Can anyone tell me if this will heal itself or will it always remain 'floppy' - excuse the expression!

Apart from that he's doing great

[andywoolloo]

One of mine had a seperation in one of his top fins, one of the many top bits was split down instead of all intact, and that healed.

Maybe yours will also?

Probably happenned during netting? Or what do you think? Was it like that in the tank at the store or just after you brought him home? Sometimes the store people net them rough when they try to get them out of the net?

[darthrook]

Hey, thanks for the quick reply. No, it DEFINATELY was not like this in the store. I just got home about an hour ago and put him in my tank and noticed it. It was intact in the store. Rough netting is probably a good guess. I immediately called the store and spoke to the owner who said he has seen similar situations heal themselves, but if it does not then I can return it. I'm hoping it heals, though. He is a beautiful specimen that I would like to keep,... but not if he looks "beat-up"

[andywoolloo]

I thought mine made mine look tough and rugged! I was kinda sad to see it go away! It set him apart from the other 4! I could always pick him out! Now I have no idea which one he is.

Granted I think yours will heal with good quality water and food, but mine was the filament in between and yours is the actual spike, so wait till Richard or Birger or Mats or one of the other knowledgable people come on to advise you.

Mine took a long time to totally heal up. I wouldn't return him if I was you, it gives him character! Plus who knows if you bring him back maybe they'll reckon no one will want him and put him down!

[MatsP]

It will almost certainly heal in a satisfactory way. I have had fish that lost part of the hard ray in the fins, and as long as there is no persistant damage (say, something that the fish constantly rubs against, or another fish biting it).

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Mats