Da Vinci Clown Fish Help

Mike Lemming · Aug 8, 2016

Hey everyone!
I recently purchased 2 Da Vinci clowns and didn't notice until day 2 that only one of them has it's pelvic fin. They both seem to swim fine and nothing seems wrong but, it this something that should grow back? Should I be worried?
Thanks in advance!!
-Mike

Seadragon1 · Aug 10, 2016

How is the fish doing? (I dont know much cough...cough...nothing...cough) The pelvic fin is normally used only for reproduction (I think) but in some fish it is used for balance. If it is not used for balance the fish sould be fine.

Untamedrose · Aug 10, 2016

How do the other fins look?

Sabellafella · Aug 10, 2016

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

Humblefish · Aug 10, 2016

IME; if there's just a little of the fin left it will usually grow back. Of course, you have to keep a close eye out for infection. However, if the fin is completely gone then odds are its never coming back...

melypr1985 · Aug 10, 2016

I've had tail fins get infected and be basically gone (some still left - just a little) and after the infection healed, the tail grew back. I figure it's possible for it to grow back if there's anything there to grow off of. I wonder if it was born without one - like a defect?

eatbreakfast · Aug 11, 2016

^ I would suspect a birth defect. Commercially bred clowns aren't culled as vigorously as mother nature would.

Pelvic fins are used for stabilizing the fish's swimming. It is likely it will be just fine without it.

Mike Lemming · Aug 24, 2016

Seadragon1 said:
How is the fish doing? (I dont know much cough...cough...nothing...cough) The pelvic fin is normally used only for reproduction (I think) but in some fish it is used for balance. If it is not used for balance the fish sould be fine.

Thanks man! The fish is doing fine, just no pelvic fin..

Mike Lemming · Aug 24, 2016

Untamedrose said:
How do the other fins look?

All the other fins look fine and the clown seems to be doing well. Just got me nervous when i noticed the pelvic fin gone!

Mike Lemming · Aug 24, 2016

Humblefish said:
IME; if there's just a little of the fin left it will usually grow back. Of course, you have to keep a close eye out for infection. However, if the fin is completely gone then odds are its never coming back...

Seems to be completely gone..

Mike Lemming · Aug 24, 2016

melypr1985 said:
I've had tail fins get infected and be basically gone (some still left - just a little) and after the infection healed, the tail grew back. I figure it's possible for it to grow back if there's anything there to grow off of. I wonder if it was born without one - like a defect?

You might be right. The fish is doing great and doesn't seem to have anything wrong with it. Maybe it was a defect and has grown and adapted to live without it. Thanks!

Mike Lemming · Aug 24, 2016

eatbreakfast said:
^ I would suspect a birth defect. Commercially bred clowns aren't culled as vigorously as mother nature would.

Pelvic fins are used for stabilizing the fish's swimming. It is likely it will be just fine without it.

Thanks for the help! It seems to be doing just fine!

Katrina71 · May 17, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
^ I would suspect a birth defect. Commercially bred clowns aren't culled as vigorously as mother nature would.

Pelvic fins are used for stabilizing the fish's swimming. It is likely it will be just fine without it.

We also have a little clown with a birth defect. One very small fin just like Nemo and the gill/head area deformed in the same area. I would assume there may be other internal deformities as well. How common is this? Any special care? My son actually picked him out because he was special.

eatbreakfast · May 17, 2017

Katrina71 said:
We also have a little clown with a birth defect. One very small fin just like Nemo and the gill/head area deformed in the same area. I would assume there may be other internal deformities as well. How common is this? Any special care? My son actually picked him out because he was special.

Other than making sure it can compete for food with tankmates, fish with deformities can do quite well in captivity.