What can cause a betta’s fins to tear? Damaged slime coat?

Maybe I have been looking at the wrong cause. I assumed my betta’s fins were tearing because of fin rot, but what if my betta’s fins are getting teared somehow, then getting infected, and causing fin rot?
(^^^ Sorry if this wording is confusing.)

There’s nothing in my tank that he can accidentally get his fins caught on. I sanded all the driftwood down, tested everything with a panty hose, and made sure he couldn’t get stuck anywhere. Water parameters are all stable and don’t change.

6 months ago I noticed the first tears. I was told not to worry about it, but unfortunately it progressed, got infected, and I guess it turned into fin rot. His fins never healed though. Could his slime coat be damaged somehow? And could that be why his fins are constantly tearing and not healing?

What else can cause a betta’s fins to tear? How can I help heal his slime coat?

I’ve used Seachem Stressguard before, but it only made a small difference. Maybe I should try API Stressguard? It has aloe in it, which I read can help the slime coat.

 

If it's not nipping I guess try aquarium salt(I forgot the dosing) along with Stress guard. If it's really serious and those two together don't work, buy a more expensive product by API called Furan-2, but it only really works when the betta's fins are really not even fit to swim. Don't buy Melafix or bettafix, I tried it before, it did nothing.

 

If it's not nipping I guess try aquarium salt(I forgot the dosing) along with Stress guard. If it's really serious and those two together don't work, buy a more expensive product by API called Furan-2, but it only really works when the betta's fins are really not even fit to swim. Don't buy Melafix or bettafix, I tried it before, it did nothing.

It’s definitely not fin nipping.
If his slime coat is damaged would it still be safe to use salt or a pretty “intense” (not sure if this is the right word to use lol) medication? I was considering salt, but I did do a salt bath (6 months ago) and it made his fins worse. I’m guessing it was because of stress and not the salt though.
I get soooo many different options on using aquarium salt. Some people tell me to use it and others don’t. Then some people tell me I should do a salt bath, but others say I should of mixed it into the tank. It’s so confusing haha



I have yet to try Indian almond leaves. I ordered some a month ago and they came rotten, so now I have to buy more

 

It’s definitely not fin nipping.
If his slime coat is damaged would it still be safe to use salt or a pretty “intense” (not sure if this is the right word to use lol) medication? I was considering salt, but I did do a salt bath (6 months ago) and it made his fins worse. I’m guessing it was because of stress and not the salt though.
I get soooo many different options on using aquarium salt. Some people tell me to use it and others don’t. Then some people tell me I should do a salt bath, but others say I should of mixed it into the tank. It’s so confusing haha



I have yet to try Indian almond leaves. I ordered some a month ago and they came rotten, so now I have to buy more :/

If used properly, salt is very effective for treating a lot of infections and promotes the production of slime coat. Tannins also do the same thing, promote healing and slime coat production in bettas but it is not as effective for treating infections.

It really depends on the severity of his fin rot for which salt treatment method would be most beneficial (ie. baths or adding to tank).

 

What kind of filter you have?

 

If used properly, salt is very effective for treating a lot of infections and promotes the production of slime coat. Tannins also do the same thing, promote healing and slime coat production in bettas but it is not as effective for treating infections.

It really depends on the severity of his fin rot for which salt treatment method would be most beneficial (ie. baths or adding to tank).

I didn’t know it can promote the production of their slime coat! Ty! His fins aren’t really infected. They’re just torn.
If I were to add it to his tank, how much should I use? I’m always confused about the dosing.

What kind of filter you have?

It’s the one from Aqueon. The flow is too strong, so I used a water bottle to buffer the flow. There are no sharp edges and most of it is out of the water anyway. I’m planning on changing it to the Aquarium Co-op sponge filter soon.

 

I didn’t know it can promote the production of their slime coat! Ty! His fins aren’t really infected. They’re just torn.
If I were to add it to his tank, how much should I use? I’m always confused about the dosing.


It’s the one from Aqueon. The flow is too strong, so I used a water bottle to buffer the flow. There are no sharp edges and most of it is out of the water anyway. I’m planning on changing it to the Aquarium Co-op sponge filter soon.

Is the intake covered?

 

I didn’t know it can promote the production of their slime coat! Ty! His fins aren’t really infected. They’re just torn.
If I were to add it to his tank, how much should I use? I’m always confused about the dosing.

I would really only use salt if his fins were infected. Aquarium co-op has a great article about salt use and dosage if you wanted to check it out: Aquarium Salt: When and How to Use It Properly

You asked a good question, I'm honestly not sure if it is a slime coat production issue, but if it were I would think that not only the tips of his fins would be affected.

 

Is the intake covered?

No it’s not. My betta does sometimes sleep by it... The intake doesn’t seem too strong though and I haven’t noticed my betta near it recently.

I would really only use salt if his fins were infected. Aquarium co-op has a great article about salt use and dosage if you wanted to check it out: Aquarium Salt: When and How to Use It Properly

You asked a good question, I'm honestly not sure if it is a slime coat production issue, but if it were I would think that not only the tips of his fins would be affected.

Ty! His fins don’t seem to be infected. I think the frequent water changes helped with that a little. I guess I’m going to try using IAL and API Stressguard. I’m hoping that will help.