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Since this seems to come up here and there and the info is useful in helping one to select and safeguard the health of their betta pals, I figured I’d post this as its own info thread. Feel free to comment anything that needs added.
These are predispositions of some types. Just because a fish falls within one of these categories doesn’t mean it will definitely have all of the problems, but it does make it more likely for such issues to pop up. For all types, avoid decor with rough edges.
Note: In cases where fin rips turn to rot or fungusing, refer to more specific medicinal treatments for the situation. Additionally, some tumors in more external locations (fins, small attachment to body, etc.) can be surgically removed. Diamond eye can also be surgically removed to restore sight, but this would need to be performed by an experienced vet.
Dragonscales: Prone to tumors and diamond eye, which is where the scaling grows over the eye, blinding the fish.
Rosetails: Huge tails can collapse fin rays and cause mobility issues. Prone to tail biting to reduce the weight and thus are also prone to fin rot. Sometimes snag the fins on objects.
Delta/Super Delta/Halfmoon: The same as rosetails, although usually to a lesser degree.
Veiltail: Suceptible to fin rot if the fish is lazy or aging and spending more time resting on the bottom of the tank. Also prone to fin snags.
Dumbo: Difficult to be mobile, can snag.
Doubletails: Tend to have growth or buoyancy problems due to the compressed body.
Crowntails: Difficult to ID fin rot, which some are prone to (greater amount of fin edging to infect). Can also get bent rays from hard water or genetics.
Koi/Marble: Are likely to have genetic issues from inbreeding if not reliably sourced. But that’s true of any fish really. Also more prone to tumors.
Plakat: Generally healthy fins, but might occasionally snag.
Giants: Occasional tumor issues. Some occasional fin snags if they try to wedge themselves in small spaces.
These are predispositions of some types. Just because a fish falls within one of these categories doesn’t mean it will definitely have all of the problems, but it does make it more likely for such issues to pop up. For all types, avoid decor with rough edges.
Note: In cases where fin rips turn to rot or fungusing, refer to more specific medicinal treatments for the situation. Additionally, some tumors in more external locations (fins, small attachment to body, etc.) can be surgically removed. Diamond eye can also be surgically removed to restore sight, but this would need to be performed by an experienced vet.
Dragonscales: Prone to tumors and diamond eye, which is where the scaling grows over the eye, blinding the fish.
- Solution: Euthanize when tumors severely impact quality of life. If blind, keep the tank layout the same, use strong smelling food and a feeding ring for meals, and keep a consistent feeding time schedule.
Rosetails: Huge tails can collapse fin rays and cause mobility issues. Prone to tail biting to reduce the weight and thus are also prone to fin rot. Sometimes snag the fins on objects.
- Solution: When fins are torn or bitten, perform extra water changes to reduce chance of infection. Avoid nippy tankmates. If biting, provide more plants to rest on in the mid to upper tank levels and give extra mental stimulation, such as offering live foods or keeping with appropriate tankmates (shrimp, peaceful schoolers, etc.). Reduce flow to make swimming less laborious.
Delta/Super Delta/Halfmoon: The same as rosetails, although usually to a lesser degree.
- Solution: See rosetails.
Veiltail: Suceptible to fin rot if the fish is lazy or aging and spending more time resting on the bottom of the tank. Also prone to fin snags.
- Solution: Provide plants with broad leaves for the fish to rest on. Regularly remove waste/mulm to reduce infection from sitting in it. When fins are torn, perform extra water changes.
Dumbo: Difficult to be mobile, can snag.
- Solution: Provide lots of resting places and avoid nippy tankmates. Reduce flow to make swimming less laborious. When fins are torn, perform extra water changes.
Doubletails: Tend to have growth or buoyancy problems due to the compressed body.
- Solution: Monitor food intake carefully to prevent overfeeding. Perform treatment for swim bladder issues as necessary.
Crowntails: Difficult to ID fin rot, which some are prone to (greater amount of fin edging to infect). Can also get bent rays from hard water or genetics.
- Solution: Perform semi-frequent checks on fin tips to catch fin rot early (ends rapidly narrow and are thin and noodle-y). Bent rays will not harm fish.
Koi/Marble: Are likely to have genetic issues from inbreeding if not reliably sourced. But that’s true of any fish really. Also more prone to tumors.
- Solution: Monitor growth rate and avoid purchasing from overbred sources. Euthanize when tumors severely impact quality of life.
Plakat: Generally healthy fins, but might occasionally snag.
- Solution: Perform more frequent water changes as needed.
Giants: Occasional tumor issues. Some occasional fin snags if they try to wedge themselves in small spaces.
- Solution: Euthanize when tumors severely impact quality of life. For snags, perform more frequent water changes as needed.
