Betta fins ragged but not rotting?

[PaprikaFish]

Hey all

ive had vincent for about a month now and have noticed his fin tips looking kind of spiky or curly but they don’t seem to be getting shorter or turning dark at the edges. He’s in a cycled 6 gallon with a bunch of plants and a handful of snails. I did a water change yesterday but parameters were 0, 0, ~10 prior to change. The heater is at 79.5-80 and the flow isn’t too strong or anything.
He seems to have developed this curly/raggedy appearance to his fins as they’ve grown. Im wondering if anyone knows what caused this or if it’s an injury/disease of some sort? Thanks

the first image is from when I first got him, the rest are recent. If you zoom in on the bottom and top fins you can see what I’m talking about a little more closely

 

[ForBettaorForWorse]

So, it doesn't appear that he has been fin-nipping, and you seem to have live plants... Is there anything possible that he has been cutting his fins on? Do the fins appear to be torn? or is it possible that it is folding over itself.

 

[PaprikaFish]

There are some rocks at the bottom of the tank for the hardscape. I guess it’s possible he might be cutting his fins on them, but its also on his top fin. I just spent like 10 mins trying to take a good pic without him moving haha

as you can see the top fin looks kind of like a crowntail but only on the tips? His fins don’t normally have that black outer rim, it’s just the lighting in the pics

 

[ForBettaorForWorse]

Hmm, I don't know what could be happening. maybe it's how he is... I'd just keep an eye on his fins, and see if they get worse, and preventively do more water changes. That will help his fins heal.

 

[JustAFishServant]

This is typical for a long-finned betta. It's normal and incurable since it's not a disease. Heavy fins make poor swimmers so the bettas need to rest often (also true for long-finned females, just not as bad usually). When resting they can cut their fins on substrate, rocks, filters etc which makes them prone to fin rot and nipping as long, heavy fins make easy targets. Long-finned bettas often have back deformities due to weight of their fins and may suffocate if they don't have strength to swim to the top for air. Broken rays (bones), sunlight and mineral deficiency causes fins to curl. Sad, truly.

Unfortunately it isn't curable - it's not a disease and is extremely common, especially in older males or ones with fast-growing fins. Veils have less frayed fins unless bred with halfmoon or other heavy tail types (rosetail and feathertail - avoid feathertails at all costs!) Y'all will just have to deal with it

I know this isn't easy to hear but at least it's not an illness/parasites - just long-finned problems. Good luck with Vincent

 

[PaprikaFish]

This is my first long finned male betta so I did not know about fin curling being typical. I don’t mind if his fins look a little raggedy or not I was just worried it was some sort of disease or something I was doing wrong.. I’m glad to know he’s alright, so thank you!!

his fins have been growing very quickly since I got him so that’s probably it. I’ll keep an eye out and make sure nothing develops into fin rot or anything.

what sort of mineral deficiency would cause fin curling?

 

[JustAFishServant]

what sort of mineral deficiency would cause fin curling?

You're welcome! Could be calcium since rays are bones - without it, rays can become brittle and break (yes, it's as painful as it sounds). Likely not the issue, however, if his food has shrimp, bsfl, added minerals, egg, fish meal at the very least or unless your water is really soft

 

[PaprikaFish]

He eats a combination Omega Betta pellets in the mornings and then at night I alternate between frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms (with a fasting day every once in a while). Would that lead to a calcium deficiency?
I live in Florida and the water is pretty hard, so that probably isn’t the problem.

 

[JustAFishServant]

He eats a combination Omega Betta pellets in the mornings and then at night I alternate between frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms (with a fasting day every once in a while). Would that lead to a calcium deficiency?
I live in Florida and the water is pretty hard, so that probably isn’t the problem.

I feed almost the same. Like I said, I don't think it's calcium deficiency. I just think long, heavy fins pull down and break fin rays. It's sad but normal.

I actually heard one time that high pH/hardness could also cause fin curl? Not quite sure about it so you might want to look it up and see