My Poor Betta - Please Help Me

hey guys,

I am a semi-experienced fish keeper with a 55 gallon community tank and a 5 gal tank with a betta and two African dwarf frogs. The betta and frogs had lived together peacefully for about 2 weeks with no incidents. I went on a trip for four days, (and used a feeder for the tank), only to come back to a horrible atrocity. My betta, who had never been sick in the year I have kept him, was completely mutilated and no longer had any remnants of a tail. I don't know what happened to him, and whether or not I can save him. Currently, I have him in a breeder box with some bottom feeder food that he seems interested in, but he cannot really move well. He is head-standing, and will occasionally squirm around and make it to the surface. Was it the frogs? How much is he suffering? Please help me and let me know what I can do-
-Nathan

 

That tank is a bit small for frogs *and* a betta. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some territory battles while you were away. My money would be on the frogs, though I had a betta attack his fins (for reasons still unknown).
I did a water change and added Melafix, which helps make sure the fins don't get infected and helps them regrow. Which worked very well. I hope your finned friend recovers well.

 

Could be tail biting. I had a Betta that tore his fins and tail to shreds. I wasn’t sure what was happening until I caught him in the act. Mine would flare at his reflection when the tank light was on and the room was dark. He would get really agitated and bite his fins. I started keeping the room light on when the tank light was on and turning them off at the same time. Fixed the problem and he regrew all fins and tail.

 

Yes the tank is too small for a betta and the frogs. He wouldn't be able to hurt himself to that extent, the frogs did it. They have bad vision and if they aren't fed properly they will eat whatever moves past their snout. Is the wound completely to the flesh?

 

I am sorry to hear this about your betta, he really does look terrible.

Unfortunately, it was most likely the frogs, they can bite fins of other fish quite easily, despite their terrible eyesight.
It's not looking like tail biting to me, that looks like he was attacked and torn to shreds by force, biting would leave very small "U" shaped chunks along the fins.
I would be concerned about infection at this point of severity, so I recommend an antifungal treatment while he recovers, it will prevent a bacterial infection which can kill him if your water doesn't stay clean.

Change your water as often as possible, preferably three or more times per day, that will trigger the immune system to start working on healing the fins, and it's harder for bacteria to take hold on his wounds when the water is cleaner.
I deeply recommend using indian almond leaves, the tannins are loaded with antibacterial and fungal preventatives, it also makes the water darker which helps keep the fish calm.
If this isn't nipped while it's early, it can quickly turn into body rot, which is eventually fatal if not treated properly.

 

You have some good suggestions above. I am just so sorry for you to come back and find your Betta in such a dire situation. I hope he will soon be on the mend and make a complete recovery.

 

Fins will grow back but he'll need time. Make sure the water stays clear and keep him near the surface or move him to a shallow tank so he can surface if he needs. Mela fix in the water and lots of water changes so he doesn't get an infection. I hope he recovers.

 

Thank you guys so much for your suggestions. I'll do everything I can.