My little veiltail has holes in his fins....I think it was the hornwort?

My first betta that i've gotten is a male veiltail and I feel terrible this keeps happening to him. I don't know why it does, he must be more sensitive than others. I am now taking to spoiling him from now on...more than I usually do.
He is in a 5 gallon tank, with a heater, filter and lighting, live plants, and a coconut hut. They are all safe and have been adjusted to be safe for him and he's been doing just fine with it. I got some hornwort for my other two bettas, and it's very soft and pretty, so I decided to get some for him. I put the hornwort in last night and he loves it, even putting a few bubble nests around it. But this morning when I noticed the bubbles, I also noticed he had holes in his tail. :/
I don't want to take the plant out because he really likes it, and I've already had to take out his first plant that he loved because it hurt his fins (it was a silk plant, but a terrible one...), but I don't want it to hurt him again.
I'm going to do a large water change, and put an oak leaf in there, but I was wondering if I can break the main stem off of hornwort, or will that make it die?
I took it out and checked it over, aparently there are some little parts that are rough growing out of the main stem.
What should I do? :-\

My other two bettas don't have a problem with it.

 

Its not the hornwort.

Any chance he got it caught in the filter? Or bit it himself? Barring those options, I'd check the ammonia/nitrite, because their fins usually show the signs of poor water before anything else

 

Its not the hornwort.

Any chance he got it caught in the filter? Or bit it himself? Barring those options, I'd check the ammonia/nitrite, because their fins usually show the signs of poor water before anything else

Great advice here.

 

I'd also be concerned with that coconut hut. Check it for sharp edges or even pokey parts that might stick out.

 

Thank you for the replies!
I did a water change yesterday and today, I will check the quality though to be sure it's on the safe side. And the accessories. I don't think it would be the filter because the holes are in the middle of his long back fin, no tears and the filter valve I filled up with a sponge.
I will re check it all and post back.

It's just weird it happened at night after I put the hornwort in!
But he hasn't really hung around on top of the coconut hut until now since that is where I placed it so maybe it's the hut.....:/

 

Okay, I checked the water quality, the ammonia was at 0, if not almost 1, but I did another water change and cleaned the gravel (due time). Nitrites and Nitrates are not there because the tank (got the wrong bacteria for safer cycling, does not let tank cycle, i'm going to switch to Prime) and I checked the coconut hut and I didn't find any rough spots, I still pulled of the extra hairs (lol...giving it a haircut) and flipped it upside down so the top is hidden and I rearranged/added the hornwort back around the hut's sides. I'll keep a close eye on him and see if it works out. I'm going to add about a teaspoon of Aquarium salt in too for a few days....?

 

For healing torn fins the best options are Stress coat, and garlic guard/garlic soaked food, and pristine water. Its amazing how fast they heal up, given those

 

Garlic food?
You mean garlic that's put on bread? I have garlic here, but it's powdered....if not, what kind? If garlic gaurd is a type, where can I find it?
I'm sorry, I may be annoying with the questions but if it helps i'd definitely want to try it and so i'd like to be sure I use the right thing.
Thanks for the help!

 

I crush a garlic clove (like you buy at the grocery store) and soak it for an hour or two in a 1/4 cup of water. Then I keep it in my fridge for soaking fish food in. I replace it every other day. You only need to soak the food for a minute or two. I don't think it would work with flake food....

I feed mine garlic soaked food if they're new fish or if they're injured.

 

Mind posting a pic of the hut and the plant?

 

Okay, cool. Thank you!

I will try and post a picture, I don't have one with the hornwort yet, but the hut I do.

 

Okay, cool. Thank you!

I will try and post a picture, I don't have one with the hornwort yet, but the hut I do.

Okay cool.

 

Gaaah, my internet connecting isn't letting me load pics at the moment.
But I'll keep trying, hopefully it will work soon. I'll see if I can just post a link from another place!

 

Okay, I checked the water quality, the ammonia was at 0, if not almost 1, but I did another water change and cleaned the gravel (due time). Nitrites and Nitrates are not there because the tank (got the wrong bacteria for safer cycling, does not let tank cycle, i'm going to switch to Prime) and I checked the coconut hut and I didn't find any rough spots, I still pulled of the extra hairs (lol...giving it a haircut) and flipped it upside down so the top is hidden and I rearranged/added the hornwort back around the hut's sides. I'll keep a close eye on him and see if it works out. I'm going to add about a teaspoon of Aquarium salt in too for a few days....?

Welcome to fishlore! Just in case you don't already know, Prime is only a water conditioner, not a bacterial additive, and bacterial additives are not water conditioners. Did you add water conditioner? Also, a lot of members on fishlore advise against the use of salt. Some do like to use it. Just be careful, as the salt will not evaporate as your water does. Also, I think a teaspoon for a 5 gallon tank is too much. Ask Martinismommy, she uses salt, and is very helpful.
I agree that you should use stress coat. I've never tried garlic guard, but many people here like it.

 

Thank you! I'm sorry for the late reply.
Yea, I've always used water conditioner.
Thank you for letting me know about the salt, I didn't know 1 teaspoon was too much. I'm glad I know now! I use it every now and then, but not much any more since I've found out & read of using oak leaves to aid in health (in replacement of indian almond leaves).