Betta Fish Has Ragged Fins

so I’m still learning how to take care of my Bettas tank. I’ve noticed fins are are shorter and ragged.

I don’t do 100% water changes but I do about 50% one a week because the water ends up lower by the end of the week.

I feed him and I have silk plants, nothing plastic. I test the water but I only have the strips. Please help. The tank is 3.5 gallons

 

If you don't have a heater you should get one for him as soon as you can. Same with a filter. Are there chunks missing like he was biting his own fins or do they just look a little frayed? Test strips aren't always accurate but what do they say? For now keep up with the water changes like you've been doing unless your strips are saying you have any ammonia or nitrite then do a 50% change asap and keep doing that every day until they zero out. If his fins have brown spots on them or look like they're melting it could be fin rot but if they're just frayed that's okay and clean warm water should do the trick.

 

Can you please fill this in to give us more context: Sticky: Fish Emergency Template Can you also post pictures?

 

so I’m still learning how to take care of my Bettas tank. I’ve noticed fins are are shorter and ragged.

I don’t do 100% water changes but I do about 50% one a week because the water ends up lower by the end of the week.

I feed him and I have silk plants, nothing plastic. I test the water but I only have the strips. Please help. The tank is 3.5 gallons

First off the tank he is in is to small 5 gallons or bigger is a better option and I would get an API test kit the strips pretty much never give you a correct reading. What does he eat and have you noticed any white fuzz on him or in the tank?

 

First off the tank he is in is to small 5 gallons or bigger is a better option and I would get an API test kit the strips pretty much never give you a correct reading. What does he eat and have you noticed any white fuzz on him or in the tank?

Ok I’ll get him a new tank when I get paid. I only noticed little bubbles but I heard that was normal. He eats blood worms I feed him once before work and once after.

 

Ok I’ll get him a new tank when I get paid. I only noticed little bubbles but I heard that was normal. He eats blood worms I feed him once before work and once after.

I don't know about the bubbles my betta never gets bubbles on him nor do my other fish. Just bw sure the filter is an appropriate filter with slow flow your feeding him fine but change it up some times with some good betta flakes. I hope this helps you and your buddy good luck and just keep swimming...

 

My betta lived perfectly fine in a 2.5 gallon tank for a year before I upgraded him. He was happy and made bubble nests all the time.
I’d just made sure the decor isn’t sharp and causing the tears and make sure he has a heater bettas need them.

The less decor the better too if he’s over crowded especially in a small tank he could be stressed all I had in mine was a betta leaf hammock a couple marimo balls and a really small leaf plant leaving lots of swimming room.
3.5 is okay for a betta so long as it’s not overstocked with decorations and has a heater. But generally 5+ gallons is better however not exactly necessary or the reasoning for what’s wrong with your betta. Do you have pictures as it could be fin rot?

 

My betta lived perfectly fine in a 2.5 gallon tank for a year before I upgraded him. He was happy and made bubble nests all the time.
I’d just made sure the decor isn’t sharp and causing the tears and make sure he has a heater bettas need them.

The less decor the better too if he’s over crowded especially in a small tank he could be stressed all I had in mine was a betta leaf hammock a couple marimo balls and a really small leaf plant leaving lots of swimming room.
3.5 is okay for a betta so long as it’s not overstocked with decorations and has a heater. But generally 5+ gallons is better however not exactly necessary or the reasoning for what’s wrong with your betta. Do you have pictures as it could be fin rot?

they live okay. But think abouy it like putting a great dane in a small bathroom same thing when you put bettas in small tanks less than 5 gallons.

 

My betta lived perfectly fine in a 2.5 gallon tank for a year before I upgraded him. He was happy and made bubble nests all the time.
I’d just made sure the decor isn’t sharp and causing the tears and make sure he has a heater bettas need them.

The less decor the better too if he’s over crowded especially in a small tank he could be stressed all I had in mine was a betta leaf hammock a couple marimo balls and a really small leaf plant leaving lots of swimming room.
3.5 is okay for a betta so long as it’s not overstocked with decorations and has a heater. But generally 5+ gallons is better however not exactly necessary or the reasoning for what’s wrong with your betta. Do you have pictures as it could be fin rot?

A 3 gallon is fine if she has a good heater that keeps the water at 78 or 79 degrees consistently. And I agree no sharp or sticky anything in the tank. But when they have frayed or torn fins they need more frequent water changes to keep the water pristine until the fins recover.

they live okay. But think abouy it like putting a great dane in a small bathroom same thing when you put bettas in small tanks less than 5 gallons.

I think giving them a huge tank is also a problem for some of them. That's what I'm experiencing. As long as you can get the "furnishings" that are appropriate for the fish--like a heater that doesn't cook the fish and that keeps the water the correct consistent temperature. 5 is probably best, 20 is too large, in my opinion and 3 is fine but harder to keep warm. A filter is good, but not if it catches the fish's fins or blows it around the tank. Clean water is the most important. Keep your hands out of the water unless you're wearing gloves.

 

Hey, sorry to hear you’re having this issue.

We need a bit more info. Pics, parameters, is it cycled, how old is he, how long have you had him please