Alessa

Ok, woke up today to find a huge chunk of Balthier's tail missing. Inmediately removed any "suspicious" decor and replaced it with some house decor (silk plants). Performed inmediate 50% water change and added vitachem, garlic guard, stress coat and attisons betta spa in a higher concentration than I normaly use.

Then thing is that I never found the chunk of missing tail tangled anywhere, and I had never had any problems with the decor. Is it possible that my boy is a tail biter?

ShaynaB

It could be possible.

I'd watch him to see if he's biting his tail. Sometimes it's hard to catch.

Make sure the silk plants don't have a metal rod in them if they're from around the house! They'll rust in the water.

I hope Balthier feels better soon!

Alessa

No, I took the metal rod out. they are just some long plastic leaves I gound and a yellow tulip, so that his tank does not look so empty?

Has anyone dealt with this? and is there a way to make them stop?

Shawnie

MM had that issue with patron..sometimes new decor, hamster tunnels, bubble wands, and just a change in their tank helps keep them happier..sometimes even dividing the tank and putting another next door keeps them busy so they cant get bored...I hope bathier gets better soon!!!

Alessa

Ok, im spending the night out of my house today and I just heard from my mom... he bit another chunk off!!!!!!

it cant be the decor since I took everything that could remotely hurt him out! AARRRRGGHH!!!

Martinismommy

Alessa I PM'd you with what I did that worked for my beautiful boy Patron....

Alessa

Ok, now I am worried. Came home today to find him with a missing scale... I dont know whats going on anymore. Dosed the tank again with all of the above mentioned.

Lucy

I'm so sorry Balthier's being naughty. Aren't there a few people who have bettas in the hex tanks that have problems with tail biting?

I'm sure MM sent you good advice, so I'll send good vibes.

Martinismommy

How is the little mans tail today?

Alessa

Its still pretty shredded... and I am seeing a little white dot in the tail, it does not look like ich, but I dont really know what it is... he had it before, but I thought it was just a discoloration?

still lacking that scale, and tail still not looking good... should I dose the tank daily with the above things?

thanks for asking MM!

Martinismommy

Yes, I'd put him on garlic guard, vita chem and stress coat for sure...If it keeps getting worse you may want to start treating him with rid fungus and tri-sulpha...

Lucy

I hope he recovers quickly, Alessa.

Keep us up to date.

chickadee

He is unhappy with something and it could just be that he wants more attention than he is getting. If that is the case then you can change the tank around all over the place and it will not help. Try to talk to him and put your hand flat on his tank side and spend some time singing to him or talking to him for a few minutes when you feed him and give him some "quality time" special to him and see if this makes a difference. He may be feeling ignored or just lonely. If this does not work then he needs something with a lot of holes in it to swim in and out of to play in and stay busy with. But usually it is boredom and easily taken care of by simply spending some "quality time" with your baby.

Rose

Alessa

Thanks Rose, Thanks everyone!

I've spent some time with the boy, his missing scale has healed and he is enjoying his newly planted tank like a boy in a candy store! He still has a lot of tail to grow back, but at least he is not biting it anymore and he has been really busy bubble nesting and playing with the hornwort!

thanks to all again!

COBettaCouple

If he does bite his tail again, a piece of almond leaf in the tank is something I've heard will help deal with their urge to do that.

Alessa

Thanks Cobetta. I was using a higher ammount of attison's (almond leaf extract since I lack the leaves ), I guess that and with the new real plants, the extra attention... and my boy stopped!

COBettaCouple

Great, glad he's up and flying again!

Lucy

That's great news Alessa!