Betta Tail Looks Torn Up - Help?

I've had my Betta for a month now and this morning I noticed his tail looking different. I'm guessing he's bit it or snagged it on something...? I don't know what happened, he was fine last night and this morning his tail isn't how it was before.
I also noticed a fair amount of bubbles on the top of the tank, they were larger and not together so it wasn't a bubble nest. I did a 40% water change just now and I checked the water temp and its fine.
he's being upgraded in a few days to a bigger tank with a light and filter.
The photo where he's facing to the left is the first day I got him and the other photo is from today, when I noticed something up with his tail.

Is there anything I can do for him ? Did he do this to himself? Was it something I did or didn't do?

 

Oh gosh. He is probably snagging it on that sharp plastic plant, and aggravating the injury because that tank is absolutely unacceptable for a betta.

A betta needs at least 2.5 gallons, a heater set to 78 degrees, a filter, silk plants only - so if you are upgrading I would keep that in mind.


Do you have a test kit? Knowing your reading for ammonia, nitrate and nitrate would help. If you don't have a kit, you can test your water at Petsmart for free.

 

okay, yeah the current plant won't be going into his new tank.
will his tail grow back once he's away from the sharp plant?

 

If the tank is large enough, heated, filtered, has clean water (ammonia, nitrate and nitrite are under control), there is no bacteria because you vacuum your gravel, and there is nothing sharp in that tank, there is no reason you can't have a happy and healthy betta.

 

okay, yeah the current plant won't be going into his new tank.
will his tail grow back once he's away from the sharp plant?

Yes, luckily tails grow back. While tunafax is probably right, do watch him to make sure he's not nipping his own tail. But tunafax is definitely right about him needing a bigger, heated home. As it is now he will need a 50% water change every day.

 

Tail nipping due to stress can definitely happen. Not yet though - it would appear overnight and look like a reverse mohawk. Right now he just looks sad if not a bit clamped.

 

How big is his new tank going to be? The one he's in is very small for a betta. Also, in the future I would stick to only silk or live plants so this doesn't happen again. While he's in that tank make sure you change the water every day to keep it super clean too.

 

if you still want decor try java ferns I got one for my betta and i'm planing on getting a few more there fairly easy to care for just drop a drop or 2 of plant food each week.
my betta love the plant she sleeps in it.

I don't want to be annoying but how many gallons is that betta tank in my research you should have 10 gallons for a good long life but they can also be happy and healthy in 3-5 gallons.