Fin Tearing?

Hi, my male dumbo betta has been having mild tears in his caudal fin for the past few weeks. At first, I thought he had caught it on something and torn it because it wasn't anything dramatic. He was in a 2.5 at the point that I first noticed it, but I moved him to a divided 10gal a couple weeks ago. I noticed that the tears were getting slightly worse, and I really couldn't tell if it was fin rot or he was tearing his own fins. I ordered some seachem paragard just incase it was fin rot, and have been using that for about 5 days now. I've been monitoring his fin closely, and it seems that it has gotten much worse in one day. Yesterday he didn't have the huge horizontal tear that he has now, and I think I just noticed him biting at and eating part of his tail, and then a little red (blood) spot. I was hoping someone could confirm that he's actually a tail nipper and if so what I should do about that.
Thank you!

(I went ahead and circled the blood? spot and the huge new tear I noticed today)

 

What are his water parameters? How often do you do water changes and how much do you change? I've had Bettas in the past who were extra prone to this issue and increasing the water changes usually helped.

 

What are his water parameters? How often do you do water changes and how much do you change? I've had Bettas in the past who were extra prone to this issue and increasing the water changes usually helped.

Thanks for the reply,

I just tested the water with apI test kit:
Temp: ~78F
pH: Ok at 7.4
Nitrites: zero
Nitrates: 5.0
Ammonia: slightly high at 0.25

The 10gal is filtered, but I usually do 25% water changes every week or so. I'm definitely going to do a 50% change tomorrow to try to get rid of that ammonia level though, as I'm sure that doesn't help. The other betta I have in there has been completely fine.

 

The ammonia may be slightly elevated just because the bacteria haven't yet caught up with the extra load on it from the new fish's wastes.

 

I've been monitoring his fin closely, and it seems that it has gotten much worse in one day. Yesterday he didn't have the huge horizontal tear that he has now, and I think I just noticed him biting at and eating part of his tail, and then a little red (blood) spot. I was hoping someone could confirm that he's actually a tail nipper and if so what I should do about that.

What kind of lighting is he getting in the divided 10gal? Is it notably different than his 2.5 gal? Does he have any decorations? Can he see the other betta in the tank?

It's possible that he was stressed in the 2.5 gallon and moving him to the divided tank stressed him out more because of the change in scenery.

Agreeing that the water changes will help. I personally use API stress coat + for when my delta tail gets tail-bitey.

 

Those edges look clean, I'd guess it's biting or ripping. I have a male who shredded his fins when the ammonia spiked in his tank (it was at 1ppm though).

I had a rosetail once, I bought him before I knew about their issues, who shredded his fins after they collapsed. The weight was too much. I've read that this is actually somewhat common in rosetails, feather tails, and other fish with really, really heavy and big fins. Your boy's look pretty significant relative to his body. That may be part of the reason why he's doing it.

With my rosetail all I could do was keep the water super clean to keep fin rot at bay. He would take off about half the length of his caudal fin and then he'd stop. It would grow back for a few months, then he'd bite it right back off again.

If there's nothing else that could be causing it, maybe he just doesn't like the weight.

 

What kind of lighting is he getting in the divided 10gal? Is it notably different than his 2.5 gal? Does he have any decorations? Can he see the other betta in the tank?

It's possible that he was stressed in the 2.5 gallon and moving him to the divided tank stressed him out more because of the change in scenery.

Agreeing that the water changes will help. I personally use API stress coat + for when my delta tail gets tail-bitey.

Both the 10gal and 2.5gal get natural lighting, so nothing's changed there. He does have a mixture of silk/real plants. The mesh is black, but I'm sure they can still see shadows of one another... he sometimes gets obsessive about trying to get to the other side of the tank. I think I'm going to plant the divider up so it seems more natural/they can't see each other at all. He does seem happier in the divided tank because he has more room to move his fins around. Thanks for the advice, I'll try more stress coat

Those edges look clean, I'd guess it's biting or ripping. I have a male who shredded his fins when the ammonia spiked in his tank (it was at 1ppm though).

I had a rosetail once, I bought him before I knew about their issues, who shredded his fins after they collapsed. The weight was too much. I've read that this is actually somewhat common in rosetails, feather tails, and other fish with really, really heavy and big fins. Your boy's look pretty significant relative to his body. That may be part of the reason why he's doing it.

With my rosetail all I could do was keep the water super clean to keep fin rot at bay. He would take off about half the length of his caudal fin and then he'd stop. It would grow back for a few months, then he'd bite it right back off again.

If there's nothing else that could be causing it, maybe he just doesn't like the weight.

Yeah, I really wish I had known about the issues with fin weight before I got him as well... you're right, he just doesn't seem happy having to carry around all that fin. I'm considering moving him back to the 2.5 gal, but he does seem happier being able to stretch out a bit more... even though he's started ripping his fins more. Maybe with the extra space he's figured out he can't move as well :/. I'll just try keeping the water as clean as I can so that rot doesn't set in and let him do what he's going to do I guess. Do you know of any ways to distract him from doing it?

Thanks so much!

 

Both the 10gal and 2.5gal get natural lighting, so nothing's changed there. He does have a mixture of silk/real plants. The mesh is black, but I'm sure they can still see shadows of one another... he sometimes gets obsessive about trying to get to the other side of the tank. I think I'm going to plant the divider up so it seems more natural/they can't see each other at all. He does seem happier in the divided tank because he has more room to move his fins around. Thanks for the advice, I'll try more stress coat



Yeah, I really wish I had known about the issues with fin weight before I got him as well... you're right, he just doesn't seem happy having to carry around all that fin. I'm considering moving him back to the 2.5 gal, but he does seem happier being able to stretch out a bit more... even though he's started ripping his fins more. Maybe with the extra space he's figured out he can't move as well :/. I'll just try keeping the water as clean as I can so that rot doesn't set in and let him do what he's going to do I guess. Do you know of any ways to distract him from doing it?

Thanks so much!

Toys can sometimes help (not a mirror, that'll stress him out). I like nontoxic plastic beads, like the kind in kids craft kits. I also like thick pieces of organic cloth with the ends sewed so there's no fraying material that they can eat, and soaked in a bucket of water for a week or so to get rid of any dyes or anything.

Moving his plants and stuff around once a week or so can help. Maybe play a video where he can see of cartoons, something with a lot of colors. I've had a couple who liked watching cartoons, and a female who would literally just sit there and watch for a long time.

Just stuff to keep him entertained might help, but if he's determined, there's nothing you can do. Nothing I did stopped my male from doing it, I just kind of accepted that he would always do it and just adjusted my cleaning schedule around that.

I would also keep him in the 5 gallon. He's going to bite anyway and the 5 gallon is easier to keep clean.

 

Moving his plants and stuff around once a week or so can help. Maybe play a video where he can see of cartoons, something with a lot of colors. I've had a couple who liked watching cartoons, and a female who would literally just sit there and watch for a long time.

Agreeing with this! My delta tail (the bitey one) likes to look at knickknacks I put outside his tank and move around every few days. He's also shown some interest in books:



Alternatively, you can get plants that spread over the water surface; both my bettas seem to be less restless when they've got some overhead plant cover to hide in.

It also gives them something to build bubble nests on!




Sometimes it's just trial-and-error to find out what sort of things a fish likes. Best of luck with your betta, OP! He's a very pretty boy.