New beta flashing and clamping fins

Hi everyone,

yesterday I brought home a new betta who was on sale at Petco for “physical damage”. He just appeared to be missing half a ventral fin and his fins were somewhat clamped, as well as he seemed pretty lethargic. But what else can you expect from a betta in a cup? Either way, I felt bad for the guy because I don’t think anyone would have gotten him and he would have lived a miserable life in a cup.

i had expected him to perk up after he settled into his new home, but he seems to be getting worse and I wanted to see what y’all think I should do. He has colored up a ton and is eating like a champ but he is flashing and his fins are completely clamped. I don’t see any ich or velvet on him but he is clearly uncomfortable. My tank parameters are fine and he is in a planted dirted 10 gal with my ADF who he doesn’t seem to mind. He is a pretty shy guy.

thoughts??

 

What are your water parameters other than “fine?” Heater, filter, etc? Lots of resting and hiding spots including near the surface? Even if he’s appearing to ignore his tank mate, some bettas so get stressed if they can even smell another fish and might display some of the behaviors you mentioned, but an ADF might be fine if he clearly knows it’s not another fish (some bettas are very dumb, bless them, and very territorial).

My betta personally glass surfed, flared, and clamped his fins for 1-2 weeks after moving him to his home tank as he still needed to settle in and get adjusted. He’s a very happy murder fish now—no live food nor reflection (of himself) has a chance around him.

 

Still new to bettas here…. What is “clamping” and “flashing”?

 

Still new to bettas here…. What is “clamping” and “flashing”?

Clamping is when they hold their fins in tight instead of letting them out loosely (not as extended as a flare, but just a relaxed, open fin).

All fish can flash, it’s when they swim fast and change directions often, etc. It’s sometimes done when stressed or bored, but can also indicate an itchy parasite like ich, etc.

These are both symptoms associated with stress and/or illness, but not diagnostic for any one disease etc. Adjusting to a new tank, even the most perfect tank in the world, can be stressful for a betta!

 

"i had expected him to perk up after he settled into his new home, but he seems to be getting worse and I wanted to see what y’all think I should do. He has colored up a ton and is eating like a champ but he is flashing and his fins are completely clamped"

Sounds like he IS getting better. Maybe just be patient?

 

All fish can flash, it’s when they swim fast and change directions often, etc. It’s sometimes done when stressed or bored, but can also indicate an itchy parasite like ich, etc.

So flashing is like the fish equivalent of pacing back and forth? My girl did that when I first put her in the new tank, until she got comfortable with the new surroundings.

 

I'd say to definitely give him more time- one day is not much. As long as he is not showing signs of decline, I'd keep doing whatever you are doing. Eating and coloring up are great signs!

 

I would say give him some more time to get used to his new home the fact he's eating is good. Betta fish are very territorial, and he is most likely trying to show who's boss here and this is his space now since he is in a new environment.

 

So flashing is like the fish equivalent of pacing back and forth? My girl did that when I first put her in the new tank, until she got comfortable with the new surroundings.

Flashing is a little different from glass surfing, which can both look like pacing! It was really obvious to me when my ember tetras were flashing when they were itchy with ich because they would change directions so fast while trying to shake off the ich that it looks like a flash of light as it reflects off their scales. Glass surfing is more like pacing the glass and might be more of a sign of aggression against his own reflection (likely calms down with time) and getting used to a new home.

 

Hey everyone!!!

thank you so much for the replies. After a bit more time, he has really started to settle down and in.

just to answer a few questions, yes he is in a very established heated and filtered tank 0/0/10. It was the home of my betta of 5 years before he passed of old age last April. I accidentally dropped an ember tetra in there the other day when I was trying to put an Amano shrimp in (long story), so now there’s a random singular ember tetra that I can’t catch for the life of me. He seems to act stressed when it gets close to him (clamps his fins and starts to get stress stripes) so I’ll keep trying to catch it and put it back with the others. However, that being said, he is literally the most docile beta I’ve ever seen before. He doesn’t flare at anything or act in any traditionally aggressive way, even at his own reflection. He just… ignores everything or gets shy. What an odd ball!!

Anyway, things are really looking up for him. I’ll add a picture of what he looked like the first day vs. now. As you’ll see, even his stress stripes are going away!! And I’ll add a picture of his tank too

 

Wow I love your tank! Looks like a little pond. I can’t wait until my plants grow in a bit.

 

What a beautiful tank!!! And I swear that betta looks like it might be a bit of a hybrid...splendens and wild type mix. That could explain his calmer disposition.

He is incredibly beautiful!!!!!