Injured catfish

[Welsh]

I bought this ornament that resembles a small tree stump.

After awhile I noticed I hadnt seen my pleco and found him stuck in a crevice of the stump with no exit hole. I left him awhile but it appeared to me he was truly stuck in there

I had to saw open the stump being careful not to cut the fish. I was able to get access to the fish but it was tightly stuck whether it was sucking or stuck or both not sure, i ended up pulling its tail to get him out of there and I pulled out part of its rear fin. He appears to be fine now he is out just looks a bit weird with part of his rear fin missing.

Does anyone know if this will cause problems for him or will it grow back over time?

[Woodsy]

It depends which rays were damaged and how far towards the base of the tail you damaged them. If they can be repaired, it will take a number of months at least.

[Welsh]

I pretty much ended up pulling out the whole thing to the base of the tail. There was about two left but they have fallen out on their own accord now. The fish itself appears to be fine and it has been a few days now so im hoping it is ok.

[Mick John]

It's funny how a lorricariidae can be damaged so severely and still thrive, and yet other's seem to perish for apparently no reason. I gave a perfectly healthy baby Pep. Bristle about 3cm to a friend which I had bred and within a week it had completely disappeared in a 90 litre tank. :confused: LOL.

[johnny5]

can you get some pic's up
and watch out for funges

[Welsh]

It actually grew back really quickly, within two months the tail is now fine, i added some extra stresscoat to the tank as i heard that was good for fish and yeah all good now