Betta Eating Fins?

My betta had torn her fin once, and I looked at her today, and she tore it again. Is it painful?? I took out some decorations, but what the heck!!!!


Here’s her tank in case you need to see the decorations that are left

 

Usually with fin injuries there are three reasons why they happen
1. Fin rot: I don't think your girl has it as fin rot looks like... well the fins rotting away
2. Something in tank: she caught herself on something in the tank. Do you have any fake plants or decor she could be catching herself on? It could also be the filter
3. Tail biting: I don't think it's this either as it looks like it was ripped

 

Yep it's the filter I would cover the filter with a piece of pantyhose and rubberband onto the filter input so it won't suck at her fins

 

Yeah id guess the filter. Do as said above. Keep up the water changes on the tank and they will grow back. Had me confused for a moment looking for a female betta xD.

 

I always freak out whenever mine get rips, they were too pretty before!
I think it's your filter, try placing an intake sponge over it, or something mentioned above.

 

Ok, thanks guys! My mom said she’ll take me out to go buy some pantyhose for the filter. Hopefully it heals

 

Those don't look like tears but bites, and that is a male not a female. Longer finned bettas are known to take chunks out of their fins when they either are bored or they want to lighten their load (imagine dragging your weight doubled around, that's about what the fins to body is for these guys).

 

Those don't look like tears but bites, and that is a male not a female. Longer finned bettas are known to take chunks out of their fins when they either are bored or they want to lighten their load (imagine dragging your weight doubled around, that's about what the fins to body is for these guys).

So my first thought was right... I knew they looked like fin nips!

 

I agree, it looks like he (not she) is tail biting. it could be the filter or the plant though. maybe he tried squeezing in between the glass and the plant? you might want to move it away from the glass. but yeah, he might just be bored in a small sparse tank or unable to swim well because of the filter current + long fins.

 

Apparently my betta is fin nipping himself. Does it hurt him? How can I prevent it from happening again?

 

Bad water conditions, boredom or stress are the main causes of self caused fin nipping.

To combat these three, I would do a water change, and move all the decorations around, to give him more things to explore.

What size tank? Is it filtered, heated, and cycled?

How long have you had him?

 

Bad water conditions, boredom or stress are the main causes of self caused fin nipping.

To combat these three, I would do a water change, and move all the decorations around, to give him more things to explore.

What size tank? Is it filtered, heated, and cycled?

How long have you had him?

Had him for a few months. Got him a little before June.
The tank is 6.5 gallons, it’s heated to around 81 degrees, and it’s cycled.
I did a water change about a week ago, and I moved around some of the decorations today. Hopefully it helps.

 

It could also be a different reason. Before this started happening, was he laying on the bottom a lot?

 

It could also be a different reason. Before this started happening, was he laying on the bottom a lot?

Not really, he’s laying on the bottom a lot more now. He’s still swimming around lots, but he is spending more time on the bottom.

 

Not really, he’s laying on the bottom a lot more now. He’s still swimming around lots, but he is spending more time on the bottom.

I highly recommend the floating log ornament for bettas. They find the movement fascinating and it elminates the need to move decor around when something is always moving.

 

Hello! Another possibility I hope is helpful that you could check on, besides what’s already been mentioned, is if there are any parts of the tank that might be too reflective. (Lights to strong causing hyper reflection, shiny tank backrounds)

I have a Betta at the moment that hates tank backgrounds or colorful patterns that he can see his reflection in. He can’t have a tank background at all because he’s a nut. My other Bettas didn’t have that problem. It’s worth looking into.

 

Oh if it's tail biting then it could be for two possibility boredom or the betta feels like their fins are two big and weighing them down. For boredom I recommend to SHAKE THINGS UP!!!! Add more decorations! Get a live plant! Feed him a new food! Feed him live food! Switch around the decorations! Get a new toy! Show him a mirror! (Only for a couple minutes otherwise it will stress him out) if he feels his fins are too heavy then add a leaf hammock or a betta log. Add a broad leaf plant like anubias so he can rest on it

 

Not really, he’s laying on the bottom a lot more now. He’s still swimming around lots, but he is spending more time on the bottom.

He could very likely be biting his fins because they are dragging him down, and he's biting them to make it easier to swim. That's what happened to my halfmoon.
IAL will help with regrowth.

 

I would recommend buying tall plants that stretch up to the top of the water so your betta can sleep and hang out near the surface.

 

Okay, thanks guys. I think I have an idea of a cave to put in the tank.