Betta fins looking ragged /missing am I right?

Hi everyone,

I rescued Prince from a neglectful home. He was tiny, underfed and had very insignificant fins. Within a few weeks he was showing beautiful fins and weight gain. He’s always eaten well and is super active for a male. I am however concerned that he might be biting his fins or is it fin rot? Looks like a chunk is missing. He is in a super clean, planted tank.
I change water 50% each week and clean substrate thoroughly every 10 days - 2 weeks. Filter, heater, etc. He seems very happy.
Parameters are perfect 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 0-5 nitrates, PH around 7.8 ( we have very hard water here - limestone).
No white fuzz or fin edges. Your thoughts are welcome. And if it is fin rot please suggest what to do. I can’t understand how he would have it, but want him healthy.

 

Looks more like fin biting to me, edges look pretty clean for rot. May have to spend some extra observation time to see if you can catch him doing it and may be able to figure out a trigger for it.

 

Looks more like fin biting to me, edges look pretty clean for rot. May have to spend some extra observation time to see if you can catch him doing it and may be able to figure out a trigger for it.

OK great! I mean not great but better than disease. I'll do my best - he's pretty high activity so maybe has a high level of natural anxiety. He's more active than my females were. He's pretty hilarious. Dancing all the time. I wouldn't have even known self-mutilation was a "thing" but I've now read about a few of these sweethearts doing this. If you have any suggestions on how to calm him if I do figure it out - CBD oil lol - this would be welcome.

 

If he is fin biting, you need to figure out why he is stressed. how large is the tank? What temperature is it and is the temperature stable 24-7? What kind of filter? is it loud at all? do you have an air stone/pump? consider turning it off? does he have easy access to the tank surface? What are you feeding him? Can we see a picture of the entire tank?

 

OK great! I mean not great but better than disease. I'll do my best - he's pretty high activity so maybe has a high level of natural anxiety. He's more active than my females were. He's pretty hilarious. Dancing all the time. I wouldn't have even known self-mutilation was a "thing" but I've now read about a few of these sweethearts doing this. If you have any suggestions on how to calm him if I do figure it out - CBD oil lol - this would be welcome.

I had one that fasting day seemed to cause him to nibble. And another that would stare at his reflection then chase his tail til he bit it. Can be almost anything, really.

 

Mine would hide in his cave/hides and then nip his fins in secret. I had to remove those, and switch things around every week for a while to keep him occupied.

 

I had one that fasting day seemed to cause him to nibble. And another that would stare at his reflection then chase his tail til he bit it. Can be almost anything, really.

I’m so sorry I didn’t get any notifications!! That’s funny. Well I’m keeping an eye on him.

Mine would hide in his cave/hides and then nip his fins in secret. I had to remove those, and switch things around every week for a while to keep him occupied.

Hmmmmmmm I can’t tell when he does it. I’m going to take some plants out they’re pretty overgrown- see if that helps. Lol.

If he is fin biting, you need to figure out why he is stressed. how large is the tank? What temperature is it and is the temperature stable 24-7? What kind of filter? is it loud at all? do you have an air stone/pump? consider turning it off? does he have easy access to the tank surface? What are you feeding him? Can we see a picture of the entire tank?

Ok- it’s a 5G. It’s 78 and consistent with a set heater. I check with finger regularly as well as thermometer. Filter is carbon insert came with tank. Tank is very quiet. I don’t have an air stone as I know they like water more still. He can get to surface everywhere however I do have dog weed in there - could that be it? He does have a tank mate mystery snail but she was there first and this started quite some time later. Oh and I feed him the mini betta bits pellets with the highest protein - they come in a plastic jar type container and were recommended here. He is a super eater - he gets two morning and two at night. Once a week just once a day.

 

Hi everyone ! I have an update! I know you often only see problems. Here’s my boy Prince today - less neurotic (not by much) I took out a big portion of plant and gave him a bigger skull and waited to see if that might help. He’s doing so much better. Yey!
See pics!

 

Now that is a beautiful, healthy-looking betta boy!!!