ricktavious

Deuce looks like he managed to split his tail in two. It does not look infected or anything, but like someone took scissors and cut his tail down the middle. I'm guessing he got caught on the intake filter and his fin got damaged that way. It probably goes around 2/3rds down his back fin, right between a couple of the "ribs"

capekate

Thats a shame. What are doing to treat him? Have you taken anything out of the tank that he may have snagged his fin on? Poor lil guy...

ricktavious

There is nothing in there that I can think of that could have caused it other than the intake. Everything in there is either rounded off and smooth or sanded vigorously. He seems to be doing fine other than that, so not too sure how to treat it (other than plenty of clean water and food soaked in garlic guard).

capekate

When my fish have damaged fins, or tail nips, I add some API stress coat. Has aloe vera in it and helps to promote the natural slime coat. Mardel makes a product called Ultra Shield, a natural Skin Protector, says to use when fish are injured or stressed and also provides a protective coating.
Just some ideas for protecting the torn fin during regrowth?

COBettaCouple

Sometimes they even blow a fin, despite our best efforts to make the tank betta-safe. Our new HM Rocky has a split in his tail fin too.

What we're doing to treat his tail is daily water changes of 25-50% and after the water change, adding to the tank daily doses of: Vita-Chem (1 drop per gallon), Fish Protector (2 drops per gallon) and Garlic Guard (1-2 drops per gallon).

The garlic guard is to help prevent infection during healing and the vita-chem and fish protector help promote faster healing.

ricktavious

Thanks guys. I don't have fish protector (no one around here sells it) but I might pick up some stress coat when I'm out today!

I can already tell where his fin is growing back a bit, hopefully it patches up before long!

COBettaCouple

I have to order Fish Protector online. I order it from www.thatpetplace.com and usually get Vita-Chem at the same time.

ricktavious

Dave, thanks for the link...went ahead and ordered both the Fish Protector and Vita-chem.