yellow tang with missing lips

[karun]

I got a yellow tang from a friend with a damaged mouth. The mouth was damaged by fighting with another tang in that tank. I have had the tang for the last 6 weeks and the mouth is not bleeding anymore and the fish has gained some weight but still looks thin. The lips however have not grown back. It is swimming around, eating Nori and hair algae in the tank and seems okay except for the missing lips. Will the lips eventually grow back?

Karun

[HistroHistro]

Unfortunately, I have never seen a fish grow back any part of their body other than fins. I have come across several fish with the same problem as yours, missing mouth parts. They seemed happy and healthy enough. As long as the fish can eat and the damaged area has healed it should live a relatively normal life.