apistogramma bitaeniata split in tail

[Gotfish]

My male apistogramma bitaeniata has a small split in the right in the middle of the tail. Is this normal? I thought it may have been damaged and grow back, but has not. The frayed areas that occured recently on the tail have healed, but not the split in the middle. I don't have pics of the tail. It never flares it's fins when I have a camera.

Thanks.

 

[Mike Wise]

Split fin membranes usually heal, but if it is split to the base of the tail sometimes it doesn't. In an aquarium this will only affect the looks of the fish, not its health or other qualities. There are, however, some highly inbred fish that show fin deformities that look like fin splits. These can be passed on to their offspring. Such fish should not be used for breeding.