Torn fin?

So my betta has had a little bit of fin tearing on his dorsal fin, his other fins are ok I'm not sure if he just torn it or if it's fin rot so I've just been keeping an eye on him and it for the past few days and in not sure if it's gotten worse or not since he moves around a lot whenever I try to get a picture so the torn part flattens out when he swims, but he's still eating and he actually started making a bubble nest.
How can I tell if it's fin rot vs a torn fin?
Also I did a 25% water change last week and I'm going to do one again this weekend
I have some pictures of him a few days ago
Honestly he might actually be getting better, it's difficult to tell because he keeps moving, but his fins look slightly different, either it's growing back or getting worse it's difficult to say

 

So my betta has had a little bit of fin tearing on his dorsal fin, his other fins are ok I'm not sure if he just torn it or if it's fin rot so I've just been keeping an eye on him and it for the past few days and in not sure if it's gotten worse or not since he moves around a lot whenever I try to get a picture so the torn part flattens out when he swims, but he's still eating and he actually started making a bubble nest.
How can I tell if it's fin rot vs a torn fin?
Also I did a 25% water change last week and I'm going to do one again this weekend
I have some pictures of him a few days ago
Honestly he might actually be getting better, it's difficult to tell because he keeps moving, but his fins look slightly different, either it's growing back or getting worse it's difficult to say

By the looks of it, it does resemble Fin Rot, especially since his anal or "bottom" fin seems to look similar in the "torn" appearance. Had he ripped his fin on a piece of decor or nipped it off himself (which commonly occurs in Bettas with long, heavy tails such as Feathertail and Rosetail, and occasionally others), it would've looked much different. If you ask me, it unfortunately seems as if your beloved boy has a not-so-bad case of Fin Rot. It should very easily be treated. With daily 10% or weekly 30-50% water changes and gravel cleanings, along with the addition of medications, if needed, he should be back to his good old self!! Good luck!!

 

By the looks of it, it does resemble Fin Rot, especially since his anal or "bottom" fin seems to look similar in the "torn" appearance. Had he ripped his fin on a piece of decor or nipped it off himself (which commonly occurs in Bettas with long, heavy tails such as Feathertail and Rosetail, and occasionally others), it would've looked much different. If you ask me, it unfortunately seems as if your beloved boy has a not-so-bad case of Fin Rot. It should very easily be treated. With daily 10% or weekly 30-50% water changes and gravel cleanings, along with the addition of medications, if needed, he should be back to his good old self!! Good luck!!

Alright thank you,

I'll try the 50% water change on the weekends, and I have substrate in my tank, how would I go about cleaning that? So far I have just used my hose with an attachment that sucks up the sand and puts it back down, would that work? Also, I just bought a snail that should help keep the tank clean. When do you think I should start adding medications?

 

It looks minor. 50% WC’s will heal it up eventually. I wouldn’t add meds till you try a few 50% WC’s say every couple days. Of course providing the tank is cycled

 

It looks minor. 50% WC’s will heal it up eventually. I wouldn’t add meds till you try a few 50% WC’s say every couple days. Of course providing the tank is cycled

Alright the tank is in fact cycled

 

Do you think I should take out my fish and snail and completely rinse out my tank and rinse off the decorations? If I do that would my tank remain cycled? His fins have been torn for about a week now and that picture was taken at the beginning of the week, he won't stay still to get another good picture. Or do you think I should just do the 50% water change every other day?

 

Alright thank you,

I'll try the 50% water change on the weekends, and I have substrate in my tank, how would I go about cleaning that? So far I have just used my hose with an attachment that sucks up the sand and puts it back down, would that work? Also, I just bought a snail that should help keep the tank clean. When do you think I should start adding medications?

Actually, you're going about it just fine! In fact, those "hoses" with attachments are often called Siphons or "gravel cleaners", and they're called that for a reason!!

 

Actually, you're going about it just fine! In fact, those "hoses" with attachments are often called Siphons or "gravel cleaners", and they're called that for a reason!!

Awesome! Thanks