Split tail fin surgery?

[EireAndy]

Hi all,

I had to operate on the anal fin of my new 65cm Chagoi on Sunday as it had some fin rot and the ray was exposed (it arrived to me with this sore), surgery went really well, however when the koi was in recovery I noticed to my horror that it had split its tail fin.

My question now is do I preform surgery on this split (suture/superglue) or do I leave it to heal or grow out naturally (obviously keeping an eye on it for infection).

A picture was impossible without bowling and I was in too much of a panic at the time I noticed to think of taking one, so here is a couple of videos taken yesterday, The anal fin is looking really good so fingers crossed on it, excuse the clarity, stupid blanketweed (CBA not working after PP'ing the pond last month for Trich! Oh the joys of fish keeping.........

https://vimeo.com/43566263
https://vimeo.com/43566264

The koi is very active and is feeding well as can be seen.

I have all the equipment for suturing or gluing although no personal experience of either.

Share your thoughts!

Cheers,

Andy

[Duncan]

Hi Andy

how old is that split you have any idea?

if its healed that way and you want to join it back up you will have to scrub both halves of the split to raw tissue then suture this together, what im saying is they wont join if its an old split and the two halves have healed over you have to reopen the wound as it were
but a square knot suture near the base is the way i would go and maybe some superglue as well
dunc

[EireAndy]

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for the reply.

The split only happened last Sunday, no idea how but it was during the course of taking the koi out to do the other procedure on the anal fin.

It was only when I had it back in the floating net for recovery that I noticed it.

Cheers,
Andy

[Duncan]

i would still scrub the edges so they bleed afresh then put a sutire in as close to the base of the tail but on the split so Almost like you are trying to stop it splitting further ( i would say 1/4-3/8" up from the start of the split) then supaglue the rest

if you put a a suture in at the tail end of the split it will just rip through the ray and tissue its just to delicate

dunc

[EireAndy]

Thanks again for the advice Duncan,

I've noticed a hole/split in the anal fin that was already operated on so the koi will have to come out again anyway.

I'll practice some suturing first (any suggestions what would be good to practice on?) and then use the opportunity to fix the tail also.

After I scrub the edges and clean, should I then suture and glue followed by a topical treatment and top seal?

Cheers,

Andy

[Duncan]

Thanks again for the advice Duncan,

After I scrub the edges and clean, should I then suture and glue followed by a topical treatment and top seal?

Cheers,

Andy

yes suture and superglue and after always follow up with your chosen topical & sealer

dunc