Sharkitty

Finny's fins are all mucked!!

He looks like a crown tail! Overnight!

What happened?

My filter is down as far as it goes and I'm not sure it looks like something that would happen because of that anyway - it's very uniformly messed up. There is nothing sharp in there and no other fish. I had an algea bloom, but I don't think that shreds fins . . .

Did he trim it himself?

Amanda

A few options:
filter
fin rot
tail biting
You said that the filter isn't an option, and fin rot doesn't usually happen that fast. Maybe he is a tail biter?

Sharkitty

Yeah, it's like 1/4 inch of tail disappeared...

I've had him a month and he's never done this before. Will it grow back? Maybe he was just having a bad day?

Amanda

Could you post a pic? That would help.
The tank is cycled right?
The fins will grow back with heated/clean water. Fin biting usually occurs when the betta is bored. Is he in a spot where he can see you?

agabr123

with a 2.5 gallon tank tail biting is definitely my best guess. most of the bettas that i've heard of tail biting (including one of my own) have been in 2.5 gallon tanks and they tend to get bored after a month or so. id try adding some PVC pipe or hamster tubes for him to play with or a new decoration

Sharkitty

Hamster tubes it is.

The tank wasn't cycled two days ago, despite being cycled a week prior. I'm about the check the parameters. Also, I did a 50% water change yesterday and put in some extra stress coat, so the water shouldn't have caused any terrible stress.

Poor guy. He looks goofy!

I will test the water and take a photo.

Sharkitty

Obviously not the best picture, but you can see, even in the blur, the little swishies that are left at the end of his tail. He used the have a very straight edge and a band of blue - most of which he ate off, apparently.

He is situated where he can see me - just a foot away.

Sharkitty

That pictures doesn't seem to be playing along. I'll try again. Also, just tested the water and the tank is back to 0/0/5. Yay!

Sharkitty

Here's the new tank.

shih-tzu mom

Sharkitty-looks great might i suggest a live plant for him to rest on ? they like to sleep on plants and i have an little pot affair with no end in it and a lot of ny betta's sleep in those.I bought them buy accident lol and didn't know the end was out and put them in for about 6-betta;s and they just love to sleep in them. I have to wake them guy's for breakfast lol. hope this helps some bella

Sharkitty

Hmm, okay. Live plants seem like a whole new difficulty, but the tank gets a lot of light, so it shouldn't be too hard, right?

So you got one in a pot and just tossed the whole thing in?

shih-tzu mom

No, sorry maybe i didn't explain good enough these are 2-separte things and plants are not that hard lol. java-fern or moss is fine for them-i find the java-fern is easy to grow lol i just put it in the gravel and it grows. bella

Sharkitty

Thanks for the hamster tube idea, guys. He LOVES them! And all five parts (only four in there right now) are interchangable and twistable, so I can make lots of arrangements for him. I think I need a 5 gallon just so I can also put in his former ornament as well.

proudmomoftwins

question... do other small fish like the hamster tubes as well or just bettas?