Angelfish Feelers

[mattlee]

i have received 2 angels today bought on the net and 1 has its feelers missing..... will they grow back? what do they use them for? i have the option of returning the fish but it will have to be posted back probably at my cost!
do i just make do or send it back?
it looks kinda strange without them

 

[blue acara]

I think you mean its pelvic fin, Ive had angels come in with half missing and they always grow back.
I think(i dont know for sure) your fishes pelvic fin will grow back but it may grow back a little bent, not perfect looking.
Tolak will be able to give you a better answer.

edit: fish use the pelvic fins to help with balance and coordination in the water. They also use them to scratch themselvs and remove trailing feces from their backside.

second edit. fish, particually cichlids will also use their fins when displaying to one another for mating ect. A well displayed pelvic fin will make the fish look bigger and more impressive.

 

[mattlee]

I think you mean its pelvic fin, Ive had angels come in with half missing and they always grow back.
I think(i dont know for sure) your fishes pelvic fin will grow back but it may grow back a little bent, not perfect looking.
Tolak will be able to give you a better answer.

edit: fish use the pelvic fins to help with balance and coordination in the water. They also use them to scratch themselvs and remove trailing feces from their backside.

sorry i always call them feelers.....
it does seem well balanced from what ive seen of it today but it almost looks like there were never PELVIC FINS there at all......... maybe i can get a better look tomorrow as i still have the lights off to help settle them in.
if they dont grow back will the fish suffer or will it be ok?

 

[blue acara]

An angel fish with no pelvic fins.... it just wont look right. If they dont grow back Id replace it, but im a bit evil in that I want perfect looking fish.

 

[Ghipsi]

Hi, the Ventrals (feelers as you call them) on Angels can be missing due to enviromental effects (eg attacked by other fish) or a genetic defect.
It causes the Angel no harm to be without them but if you want the fish for breeding then I would contact the seller to see if they have always been missing as if it is a genetic defect then this could be passed on to any young, if they are missing due to envoromental factors then they may or may not grow back depending on how much damage was done.
I have a beautiful female Angel with missing Ventrals (due to being attacked in her previous home) all of her fry have ventrals & she is a healthy happy fish.
Lisa.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I am pretty sure the ventral fins aid in balance? Probably why he looks a bit clumsy.

 

[mattlee]

Hi, the Ventrals (feelers as you call them) on Angels can be missing due to enviromental effects (eg attacked by other fish) or a genetic defect.
It causes the Angel no harm to be without them but if you want the fish for breeding then I would contact the seller to see if they have always been missing as if it is a genetic defect then this could be passed on to any young, if they are missing due to envoromental factors then they may or may not grow back depending on how much damage was done.
I have a beautiful female Angel with missing Ventrals (due to being attacked in her previous home) all of her fry have ventrals & she is a healthy happy fish.
Lisa.

no didnt buy the fish for breeding so not too fussed that way although it would be nice to have my own baby angels..... just had a good look at him/her and there is nothing there at all so my guess is that its a genetic thing. i guess if it doesnt affect the fish in any way then its ok but it does look kinda odd without them.....
ill contact the seller and see what postage on returning it would be like as i would prefer a normal looking angel! who wouldnt....

 

[mattlee]

contacted the seller and he is sending another angel foc this puts me up to 6 angels so if anyone wants to give a lovely but feelerless angel a good home then let me know