How to treat Ripped Betta Fins

Hello everyone, For the past two weeks my Betta male (Clyde) has been acting more shy then normal. I thought that this was normal fish thing to hide so I didn't put to much worry into it. It wasn't until today when I turned off his filter that he swam by me and his fins don't look so well.

I looked back on photos of him when I fist got him and he differently had more full fins. They are now ripped and string like on the ends.

What should I do?

I already have Indian almond leaves in his tank and I change the water every 2 weeks.
He only has silk plants in his tank.

I have realized that he likes to hang around and rest(?) on top of the sponge filter pretty often.... could this have something to do with it?

I'm a very worried fish mom and I don't know what to do... Any suggestions?

 

I am not a betta expert but a few questions that every one will probably ask are:

1.) What size tank do you have Clyde in?
2.) If you have a test kit can you tell us your parameters?
3.) Can you take a photo of him and post it so we can try to help?

 

Not sure how to turn the left photo but.. The left photo is before and the right photo is what he looks like currently.

 

I am not a betta expert but a few questions that every one will probably ask are:

1.) What size tank do you have Clyde in?
2.) If you have a test kit can you tell us your parameters?
3.) Can you take a photo of him and post it so we can try to help?

He's in a 5 gallon Aqueon MinI bowl and we have the Freshwater Master testing kit.

Thank you for reading!

 

He's in a 5 gallon Aqueon MinI bowl and we have the Freshwater Master testing kit.

Thank you for reading!

Okay, if you can, could you tell us your parameters? I also will let you know males have been known to nip at their own fins to trim them down because they get to heavy for them. So clean water will help them heal. When was your last water change?

 

Two things,
1. Very normal my fish love their cozy sponge filters. He is a long fin betta so resting will happen alot. it is not natural for wild bettas to have long fins anyway.
2. The fun curling is worrying me a bit. last time my fish did that he got fin rot. And it kinda looks like it. I would up it to every week for water changes.


He now has small fins but are growing back. Fin rot can be treated with daily water changes and those Indian almond leafs will stop any infections.

 

Okay, if you can, could you tell us your parameters? I also will let you know males have been known to nip at their own fins to trim them down because they get to heavy for them. So clean water will help them heal. When was your last water change?

I did a water change last week.


Just did a water test here are the results:

PH 7.1 , Ammonia 0 ppm, Nitrates 5.0 ppm and Nitrites 0 ppm

 

Two things,
1. Very normal my fish love their cozy sponge filters. He is a long fin betta so resting will happen alot. it is not natural for wild bettas to have long fins anyway.
2. The fun curling is worrying me a bit. last time my fish did that he got fin rot. And it kinda looks like it. I would up it to every week for water changes.
View attachment 473018
He now has small fins but are growing back. Fin rot can be treated with daily water changes and those Indian almond leafs will stop any infections.
View attachment 473022

What is fish rot caused by?
He is a rosetail male betta could his breed cause the curly fins?
also how much water should I change?

Thank you so much!

 

Well do a quick google search of a rose tail male betta. You can see how their curl is much different then yours is. It could be fin rot or could not or maybe now I'm thinking the one spot looks nipped... Fin rot is caused by stress or poor water quality. Very much so sadly for long fin bettas are prone to fin issues. I would do some daily 25% water changes and if they are still like this then more. Just look at the two photos you can tell by the bottom one some fins are gone. Even if he does not have fin rot the water changes will help grow back his fins.

 

Great information everyone, Thank you.

If he doesn't have fin rot would it do any harm to him to add BettaFix?

 

I wouldn't add it, just do water changes and maybe add a small amount of aquarium salt. Some may agure with the benifits of aquarium salt but everyone has their own experiances and opinions.

 

How long until his fins start to grow back?
Also how long should you do water changes for?

 

I wouldn't add betta fix. I would keep changing the water for a month so you can see if the fin curling is bad genetics or something else.

 

Hello everyone, Here with an update on Clyde.
With the frequent water changes I haven't seen any improvement... His back tail fin is more ripped and his other fins are starting to look more stringy.

What should the next step of care be?

 

Hello everyone, Here with an update on Clyde.
With the frequent water changes I haven't seen any improvement... His back tail fin is more ripped and his other fins are starting to look more stringy.

What should the next step of care be?

 

Hello everyone, Here with an update on Clyde.
With the frequent water changes I haven't seen any improvement... His back tail fin is more ripped and his other fins are starting to look more stringy.

What should the next step of care be?

 

Well it’s definitely fin rot. What are the water parameters? What temperature is the the tank? Any tankmates?

 

Well it’s definitely fin rot. What are the water parameters? What temperature is the the tank? Any tankmates?

Last week was when the water was tested last and all of the parameters were perfect. I try to keep the temp around 70 to 75ish? degrees turning on his heater when it get cooler. It's just him in the tank.

Thanks,
Lucy

 

Last week was when the water was tested last and all of the parameters were perfect. I try to keep the temp around 70 to 75ish? degrees turning on his heater when it get cooler. It's just him in the tank.

Thanks,
Lucy

Okay so first get the temp to at least 78, betta’s need water temps to be at 78-80 especially when trying to heal. Then do daily water changes of %15 and do salt dips for him every other day but try to do it in the least stressful way.

 

Is there anyway you could test the water today and list the parameters. I do agree with FishFor2018 on the temp and waterchanges. I would use a small ammount of aquarium salt in the water change every other day though

 

Is there anyway you could test the water today and list the parameters. I do agree with FishFor2018 on the temp and waterchanges. I would use a small ammount of aquarium salt in the water change every other day though

Okay so first get the temp to at least 78, betta’s need water temps to be at 78-80 especially when trying to heal. Then do daily water changes of %15 and do salt dips for him every other day but try to do it in the least stressful way.

Hello everyone, Two days ago I moved him into a quarantine "tank" (I'm using a glass vase that has been cleaned without soaps) that is 1/2 a gallon. Yesterday I was going to start his salt treatment but I had to go to the ER so that didn't happen. He has a heater, Betta bed and thermometer with him. Started the salt this morning after a 50% water change and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Currently he's not doing well. He's at the bottom laying down and doesn't have much energy. He's still breathing but I don't know that to do. Please help.

 

Hello everyone, Two days ago I moved him into a quarantine "tank" (I'm using a glass vase that has been cleaned without soaps) that is 1/2 a gallon. Yesterday I was going to start his salt treatment but I had to go to the ER so that didn't happen. He has a heater, Betta bed and thermometer with him. Started the salt this morning after a 50% water change and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Currently he's not doing well. He's at the bottom laying down and doesn't have much energy. He's still breathing but I don't know that to do. Please help.

Stop doing water changes and dosing salt for three days and leave the light off for 3 days so he can calm down. I think you have stressed him way to much.

 

Stop doing water changes and dosing salt for three days and leave the light off for 3 days so he can calm down. I think you have stressed him way to much.

So even though they are using a half gallon vase with no filtration? Wouldn't ammonia levels get to high?

 

So even though they are using a half gallon vase with no filtration? Wouldn't ammonia levels get to high?

No bc I have close to 13 (found more MTS)snails in a large mason jar and I do weekly water changes and parameters are always fine.

 

Sadly, on the 16th Clyde passed away