Fish Scales

[Sangreaal]

If a koi loses a scale or scales, do they ever grow back the same or will there be some kind of disfigurement? How long on average does it take to regenerate scales?

Marie

[luke frisbee]

If

if it is small and the injury was just a scale(s) getting removed they may grow back in a year or so to the point that ya can't tell the difference....

[Sangreaal]

So kinda like at the same rate as losing a fingernail? No rippling or disfiguration?

[luke frisbee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sangreaal So kinda like at the same rate as losing a fingernail? No rippling or disfiguration?

henryC has a couple of great pics somewhere on this site where he had a show fish get dinged before a show so he had to leave her at home...he has a pic of how it is healing as well....
If it ain't a big spot, and ain't infected, just watch it and keep the koi in good water. What happens happens.

[KoiCop]

Some scales grow back misshapen, some grow back misaligned and some grow back discolored. Only time will tell.

[Sangreaal]

Would it help to feed a higher protein and/or more vitamin enriched feed to help in the scale regeneration process?

[Regenmeneer]

Marie,

I've had koi loose scales in the past. IMHO, good water quality and warm water will aid tremendously in regrowing the scales. When the scales were lost due to mechanical damage (jumping, breeding, etc), they will grow back in about two months when conditions are right. It might take some time for the coloration to be the same as the surrounding scales, and unfortunately, sometimes the color will never be the same again.

[luke frisbee]

SAN,
HE SAID IT AND THAT IS WHAT IS BELIEVED.
As to providing a higher quality food...if you had a little road rash would you modify your diet?

[Sangreaal]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee SAN, HE SAID IT AND THAT IS WHAT IS BELIEVED. As to providing a higher quality food...if you had a little road rash would you modify your diet?

If I ripped off a fingernail I would certainly take supplements so it grew back strong and straight, yeah.

[luke frisbee]

Well you'd be wrong if you felt the change in your diet was going to make the fingernail grow back any better than when you had a normal healthy diet.