Bad Wolf

Okay, just yesterday I purchased a male, veil tail betta from my LFS. He was in good health and I placed him into my 7 gallon molly fry tank. He was doing really good, but this morning I went to go check on him, and his tail had a few rips. I have no clue what did it. Later on, after I got home from school, his tail was even more ripped. He looks like a crowntail, and probably could pass for one.

The only other fish in the tank are about a dozen 12 week old mollies and a 1 inch bristle nose pleco. There are a few plants in the tank (plastic and real), but I really don't see how that could have caused it. He is acting completely fine and healthy.

Any suggestions to what could have happened to him. Is there a chance he did it to himself or the fry did it to him?

Thanks

scatty

I had a similar situation when I got my betta. Turned out his fins were getting sucked into the filter intake. Are you sure about the plastic plant? Their fins really are very delicate. I know nothing about BN's, but I did have a cory cat fin nibble once. My bet is the filter. A piece of stocking or fine mesh to cover it works well. Hope this helps

aquarist48

Hello Bad Wolf. Some good suggestions from Scatty. You may have seen this link before but I'll post it again anyway just in case:
Welcome and Betta Care Guide - Please Read First!!!
Your Betta could also be stressed and biting his own fins causing them to shred. Let's see what other responses you receive.
Best of luck and I hope he's going to be alright.
Ken

shellbell4ever

So sorry to hear about your new Betta's fins,I had the same problem in the past and found it to be the plastic plants,have you tried the stocking test on them?Betta's finns are very delacate hope you solve this riddle soon!!

hooxeii

Are the fry nipping? I had a female come down with what looked like rapid fin rot, but was actually nipping from her tankmates.

Could be the filter too... they have those long, delicate fins, and the filters just suck them up...

Bad Wolf

Okay, one day later, the rips have gotten worse. I had a good close look at him and the rips look way to fine to be bits and all the rips are the same length roughly. The fry are fine with him, he ignores them and they ignore him. He no longer looks like a veil tail, he looks like a crown tail. What can I use to cover the filter? BTW, the filter is a hang on filter. He still acts fine and still shows his bright colors. He's eating really well too.

Lucy

I'm sorry abiout your betta's tail
You can use a stocking like scatty suggested or if you have an extra filter sponge you can cut a slit in it and slide it over the intake.
Keep his water pristine. You can use some extra stress coat, Garlic Guard and Vita-chem to help his immune system fight off infection.

Good luck, I hope his tail starts to heal soon.

scatty

Mine is a hang on filter too. Just cut a piece of stocking or similar and use a rubber band to cover the intake. You know those gloves that are meant as loofahs to exfoliate in the shower? They're an elasticised mesh. I cut a finger of the glove off and rubber-banded it over the intake tube. It's worked well for months now. And I have 9 spares .

aquarist48

LOL Scatty on the extra 9 fingers
BadWolf, if you can use a sponge to cover your intake tube, the sponge will also act as additional bio media. Even though my fish are way too large to be sucked to the intake I have them all covered. Only rinse it gently in siphoned tank water.
I hope your betta recovers soon!
Ken

fishtroy

OK, I would blame the plastic plants. If he is swimming past them roughly his long tail could be getting snagged and consequently ripped. They market special material faux plants for bettas due to the risk of ripping usual arficial plants cause. I would be removing the plastic ones and seeing if it made a difference. If his tail is still ripping I would be watching him for a while, the ripping seems to happening quickly so what is causing it must be happening quite often. Observe and see if you can find the cause. Oh, and once the cause is fixed be sure to ad some fin repair medicine to his water so that his lovely tail can grow back.

Meenu

Hi,
According to your tank info, your nitrites and nitrates are unknown? Could it be stress from poor water conditions, acclimation, or just being in a new place?