Hi all,

On Monday evening, I noticed a tear/cut in the fin of my BGK. It was pretty much right in the center of his fin and a perfectly clean tear, if you know what I mean. It was rather large but didn't go up into his body. I freaked out, but there were no additional tears on Tuesday or Wednesday.... When I went to feed the other fish this evening, I noticed 4-5 new, smaller tears, toward the end of his fin, before the white stripes on his tail. I also couldn't see the original tear - it's like it's gone already.

Any ideas as to what could be causing these tears/cuts? I LOVE my BGK and hate to think another fish is causing these! BGK spends most of his time in the castle or tree trunk. I hand feed him thawed bloodworms before bed.

Also in tank are: numerous mollies and guppies, 2 giant danios, 1 blue gourami, 2 striped raphael catfish, 1 bristlenose pleco, 5 roseline sharks, and 2 platys. Oh, and it's 180 gallon, w/ numerous live/plastic plants, plus huge/giant Plenn Plax castle, med. size plastic log, ghost house, and 15 inch plastic "tree trunk" for hiding places. All the other fish seem to be doing fine...

Any suggestions/thoughts will be greatly appreciated Thanks in advance!

It could be the decorations. I have a fish that used to get torn up all the time. I removed the "fake cave" and plastic plants and went to all natural (plants and diftwood). He was back to normal is a couple weeks. For whatever reason he was always trying to squeeze his huge body through places he couldn't fit.

Also-it could be one of your fish is doing the damage. I had a male betta that we put in our 55 gallon with our fancy goldfish (felt sorry for him in his little bowl). He attacked one of the golds all the time. Just the tail fins. As soon as we pulled him out the fins healed up.

I would turn the lights out and watch him for a while- see what kind of mischief he gets into.

Julie

gotta say I agree with him, decorations can harm a fish. also, how big is he?