Are Crowntails Sensitive?

I have always been big with bettas, but this one thing has puzzled me for quite a while now, it's hard to understand.

I am asking why my crowntail betta is constantly having issues with his fins, they are always torn and just shorter than most other crowntails like him. Are they just sensitive to the water parameters than other bettas, does the tail require a different level of attention than for example, a veiltail or halfmoon? This betta has never had perfect fins after he moved to the divided tank, which is not currently staying in anymore. He went through a breeding attempt but didn't seem interested enough to make a nest to start the process, so I took him out, and he's just been looking sad ever since. His behaviors are fine, he eats well and looks fine, just that his fins are receding, the webbing is small and his tail looks ratty. I have almond leaves on the way, maybe tannins will help, but daily water changes sure didn't.

Does anyone have any opinions on what to do for this guy?

 

Pictures would help

 

From what I've read on crown and rose tails, their fins are more delicate because the way the crown and rose tail are formed is a mutation that causes the fish to grow more rays in the tail and fins than normal which creates more skin between the Ray's giving the floral effect. It's been noted by several websites the this causes health issues especially in the males as they get older. The fins and tail are heavier due to the excess skin which makes it harder for the males especially to swim. It is not uncommon for rose tails and crown tails to start biting off parts of their own tails and fins in an effort to be able to move more easily and relieve the weight.

I have a female crown tail that has no sensitivity to water conditions since she lives with 5 mollies and a pleco. But, as she's a female, her fins and tail are mall enough that she swims ok but slowly.

If you do a Google search for crowntail males and rose tail males, you should be able to find the articles I did and you might be able to compare the shape of your crowntail's fins and tails to ones that have been biting off their own fins and tails.

 

From what I've read on crown and rose tails, their fins are more delicate because the way the crown and rose tail are formed is a mutation that causes the fish to grow more rays in the tail and fins than normal which creates more skin between the Ray's giving the floral effect. It's been noted by several websites the this causes health issues especially in the males as they get older. The fins and tail are heavier due to the excess skin which makes it harder for the males especially to swim. It is not uncommon for rose tails and crown tails to start biting off parts of their own tails and fins in an effort to be able to move more easily and relieve the weight.

I have a female crown tail that has no sensitivity to water conditions since she lives with 5 mollies and a pleco. But, as she's a female, her fins and tail are mall enough that she swims ok but slowly.

If you do a Google search for crowntail males and rose tail males, you should be able to find the articles I did and you might be able to compare the shape of your crowntail's fins and tails to ones that have been biting off their own fins and tails.

Would you ever recommend trimming? I know some people do that, and reading this made me worry a bit about my betta sin, he has an especially elgongated tail and fins since he was bred for a long spindly look.
I feel so bad for most bettas now all these breedings for beauty but not for health.

 

Would you ever recommend trimming? I know some people do that, and reading this made me worry a bit about my betta sin, he has an especially elgongated tail and fins since he was bred for a long spindly look.
I feel so bad for most bettas now all these breedings for beauty but not for health.

Personally, I wouldn't try trimming because I'm too afraid of harming my fish even by touching them. I even try to avoid using nets if I have to remove them from a tank. So, I can't say if it's a good idea or not. You might want to check some of the articles on betta rescues to see if trimming helps because I don't really remember what they say about it.

I do remember that they suggest keeping crowns and rose males in shallower tanks so the fish doesn't have to fight gravity as much to feed and to make sure they have plenty of places to rest like anubias leaves.

 

Personally, I wouldn't try trimming because I'm too afraid of harming my fish even by touching them. I even try to avoid using nets if I have to remove them from a tank. So, I can't say if it's a good idea or not. You might want to check some of the articles on betta rescues to see if trimming helps because I don't really remember what they say about it.

I do remember that they suggest keeping crowns and rose males in shallower tanks so the fish doesn't have to fight gravity as much to feed and to make sure they have plenty of places to rest like anubias leaves.

Watching him swim around and rest at the bottom those thing definitely came to mind.
Resting spaces on multiple levels of the tank, and slightly shallower water so he doesn't have so far up to swim.

Perhaps I'll just put him in our bookshelf tank we're getting for our shrimps. A bit smaller than what he has now, but a similar amount of water if I lowered his levels.
This way I only have to buy one tank too as his will become free..

I'm just thinking, if a fish has fin nipping problems, maybe those behaviors can be nipped with trimming.

My grandma had a parrot who picked at himself, but if they trimmed his feathers, he would let them grow instead of pulling them out.

Hopefully there's something to be done to ease all our bettas and their fins.

 

From what I've read on crown and rose tails, their fins are more delicate because the way the crown and rose tail are formed is a mutation that causes the fish to grow more rays in the tail and fins than normal which creates more skin between the Ray's giving the floral effect. It's been noted by several websites the this causes health issues especially in the males as they get older. The fins and tail are heavier due to the excess skin which makes it harder for the males especially to swim. It is not uncommon for rose tails and crown tails to start biting off parts of their own tails and fins in an effort to be able to move more easily and relieve the weight.

I have a female crown tail that has no sensitivity to water conditions since she lives with 5 mollies and a pleco. But, as she's a female, her fins and tail are mall enough that she swims ok but slowly.

If you do a Google search for crowntail males and rose tail males, you should be able to find the articles I did and you might be able to compare the shape of your crowntail's fins and tails to ones that have been biting off their own fins and tails.

I think he may be biting his fins, forgot all about that!
Here's a photo of the betta.

 

My crowntail's fins have noticeably grown since I got him, his "dreadlocks" so seemingly out of control!! I have noticed that a couple of the "locks" at the top of his tail look like he nipped off. Can't really blame him, he carries about as usual. I do pay extra close attention to his fins and tail, as he seems a lot more susceptible to fin rot than my other bettas. Guess that's about all you can do, pay close attention and treat it early. I also do more water changes on his tank than the others for that reason as well.

 

By advisory from another great betta keeper that I was in touch with from a different location, told me to set up a small tank and add as many plants as possible, along with adding almond leaves or rooibos tea to the water.
I have set up the 2.5 gallon tank loaded with plants and tannin sources. I am definitely going to get the tea leaves as well.