My Bettas Fins Are Shredding

Screenshot_20180626-092901_Gallery

• erin2015
• Jun 26, 2018

torn fins

Screenshot_20180626-092740_Gallery

• erin2015
• Jun 26, 2018

torn fins

Ive had this betta for about a year and have had no problems with him. He is in a two and a half gallon heated tank with a filter. The tank has two live plants and two fake plants. I went on vacation for 4 days and left him with my parents so they could feed him and when I go back his fins looked a little tattered. I figured he snagged them on the fake plants so I took them out. Its now two days later and they look far worse. I have done a large water change hoping that would help. Any idea what is going on and what I can do it fix it? Thank you.

 

Total shot in the dark here, but is it possible your parents overfed him while you were gone, causing his water quality to go downhill? Did he look fat when you got back? You did a water change, so that should help, but it will take several months for his fins to heal.

 

Total shot in the dark here, but is it possible your parents overfed him while you were gone, causing his water quality to go downhill? Did he look fat when you got back? You did a water change, so that should help, but it will take several months for his fins to heal.

Its possibility that he could have been overfed. Do you think I need to treat the fish with any medication?

 

Its possibility that he could have been overfed. Do you think I need to treat the fish with any medication?

No medication for now, just water changes until the tank conditions are back under control. I also think betta need salt to heal well, but that's my opinion Mine developed a split fin 3 days ago (I think he snagged it on an ornament which I have since removed), and he healed from that in the past 3 days. It's remarkable how quickly they can bounce back if their water if fresh and clean!

I second what IHaveADogToo said--your parents probably overfed him. In the future, betta are more than OK without food for upwards of a week, and it's probably better for him than people who might fall for the starving-betta act >_> (tries to pretend her Ocean doesn't have her wrapped around his little fin).

 

I second what IHaveADogToo said--your parents probably overfed him. In the future, betta are more than OK without food for upwards of a week, and it's probably better for him than people who might fall for the starving-betta act >_> (tries to pretend her Ocean doesn't have her wrapped around his little fin).

Hahaha the starving betta act... Every betta owner has seen it and fallen for it at some point!! It's so hard to say no to their little fishy faces.

 

Agreed - do not jump to medication. Medication is not recommended to treat fin damage in bettas. Lots and lots of fresh, clean water is. This means increase your water change schedule. You probably normally change his water once a week. To help promote fin growth and healing, you should increase water changes to 3 times a week. More if you can. Fresh, clean water will promote healing in ways medicine can't compete with. Medication for fin damage does exist, and in some cases where there's advanced fin rot they may be necessary, but for your guy, just clean water.

 

No medication for now, just water changes until the tank conditions are back under control. I also think betta need salt to heal well, but that's my opinion Mine developed a split fin 3 days ago (I think he snagged it on an ornament which I have since removed), and he healed from that in the past 3 days. It's remarkable how quickly they can bounce back if their water if fresh and clean!

I second what IHaveADogToo said--your parents probably overfed him. In the future, betta are more than OK without food for upwards of a week, and it's probably better for him than people who might fall for the starving-betta act >_> (tries to pretend her Ocean doesn't have her wrapped around his little fin).

Did you add the aquarium salt directly to the tank? Also how often did you add it?