I made a huge mistake!

I made a huge mistake today. Our fish tank was a little low on water. We have a 20gal. tall tank with a divider. We have two male bettas, one on each side. The shrimp like to go from one side to the other, so I keep the water level high enough for the shrimp to go across, but not the Bettas. So I filled the tank the afternoon and at a quick glance it was where it needed too be. Unfortunately I did a quick glance and didn't realize that it actually was too high. We left to bring my husband to work and I came home to grab something before dropping my kids off at a friends house to play. I looked in the fish tank and didn't see Neptune on his side. I am really looking and I decided to check that Poseidon was ok. See a fish swimming and go back to looking for Neptune. Now he is easy to see because he has gold in his fins. All of a sudden I realize I see gold fins..... in the wrong side of the tank! Neptune got into Poseidons side and attacked him. A shrimp was also killed during the fight. Thankfully Poseidon is alive. But he is in bad shape (some fins are completely gone, others are in bad shape). I got him in a Mason jar and went to the pet store to figure out what to do. Thankfully, he should live. We were given instructions on how to help his fins grow, and what to look out for for signs of infections. We also bought a breeder box so he doesn't use all his energy trying to swim around and get to the surface, as that is his favorite spot It helps me be able to keep an eye on him and know if he is eating his food.

But I am still worried. The pet store didnt see him and I was wondering how bad are his fins? He is a double tail halfmoon. The first picture is the best shot I could get of his injured pectoral fin. The grey is an outline of what is there, the pink is about what is missing.

The other Betta (dumbo ear halfmoon) seems fine. Henis tired and has a few nips on his pectoral fins, but that is it.

The other fish has a few nips on his

 

Yeah, watch out for infection and just keep him relaxed. Some stress coat might help with the healing and some aquarium salt, too. So sorry about the accident. Hope he makes it back. As long as he is eating fine and not lethargic I wouldn't worry too much.

 

Sorry about the betta, maybe you should change the divider to a mesh type so that shrimp can get through but not the fish, something similar to what the reef guys use for frags, its basically 1/2 or 3/4 thick square hard plastic.

 

He does look pretty beat up, but everything should heal with some clean water. You can add Indian almond leaves or Stressguard which have therapeutic and antiseptic properties to promote the healing process.

 

Lots of clean water, do daily water changes to prevent infection. Make sure he is fed very well, a few frozen bloodworms would be good to help boost his spirits and help him heal (good food always helps right?)

 

Be very carefull what meds you add, the shrimp may get poisined

 

Sorry about the betta, maybe you should change the divider to a mesh type so that shrimp can get through but not the fish, something similar to what the reef guys use for frags, its basically 1/2 or 3/4 thick square hard plastic.

I think the mesh would allow them to see each other and be in constant stress.

 

Sorry about the betta, maybe you should change the divider to a mesh type so that shrimp can get through but not the fish, something similar to what the reef guys use for frags, its basically 1/2 or 3/4 thick square hard plastic.

I am afraid to do that as one of the bettas has fit in things I didnt think he could. I am ok if the shrimp can't got from one side to the other, they just seem to enjoy it.I think for now I will keep the water a little lower

Be very carefull what meds you add, the shrimp may get poisined

Thank you. It's just aquarium salt for now 1x a day in a mason jar. If an infection occurs I will take him out and put him in his own tank until healed