What's happening with my betta fish fins?

Last week, when a came home a part of my betta's fins were torn, I immediately researched, and I thought that he had Fin rot, but I wasn't sure and all the people I asked about it said it was problably nothing, that he just got stuck somewhere in the aquarium.
To see what would happen, I let a week pass, and it looked like the fins were getting getting better, but today I woke up and his fins (the other part that wasn't torn from last week), was torn.
I don't know what to do or what's wrong with him.
It seems like the ends of the fins are getting black and opaque.

 

Check that there aren't any sharp edges on any decorations in the tank.

 

I don't think there are any sharp edges besides from the boat decoration or maybe the heater
(I'm not sure)

 

Do you know the parameters of your water?

 

Do you know the parameters of your water?

No
(it's the first fish I have ever taken care of, so I don't have much experience)

 

Was the tank cycled? Without knowing your water parameters, its possibly there's ammonia or nitrites present which would very well lead to fin rot, which black edges usually indicates

 

I don't know the water parameters, so...
Is the best option to buy an aquarium test kit to know if the tank is cycled?

 

Yes I would. API freshwater master kit is a decent one.

I would also start doing daily 25-50% water changes until we know the parameters, just to be cautious

 

Okay, thank you

 

Yes I would. API freshwater master kit is a decent one.

I would also start doing daily 25-50% water changes until we know the parameters, just to be cautious

Angry is right, start with the water change and get the test kit asap. Usually the first thing in fin rot is to make sure the fish is in very clean water. How long have you had the tank and was it ever cycled?

 

Angry is right, start with the water change and get the test kit asap. Usually the first thing in fin rot is to make sure the fish is in very clean water. How long have you had the tank and was it ever cycled?

I have the tank and the betta for about 1 month and 16 days

 

How often are you doing water changes and how much are you changing out each time?
What size is this tank?
Does this tank have a filter? If it does do you just wash the media/cartridge in it with some of the water you have removed from the tank or do you replace it when dirty?

When we ask for your tank perimeters we are asking for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. You can only know this by testing for them. Most of us use and recommend the API Master Freshwater Test Kit. It contains tests for all the basic things we test for.

 

So then it's cycling, I'd be interested to see how far along you are when you get your test kit. That will give everyone an idea of what's going on within the tank. But water change is your best bet right now, until others chime in. It doesn't look too far progressed from the picture, so that's a positive but it can get bad quick if your water quality is poor.

 

How often are you doing water changes and how much are you changing out each time?
What size is this tank?
Does this tank have a filter? If it does do you just wash the media/cartridge in it with some of the water you have removed from the tank or do you replace it when dirty?

When we ask for your tank perimeters we are asking for PH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. You can only know this by testing for them. Most of us use and recommend the API Master Freshwater Test Kit. It contains tests for all the basic things we test for.

I normally change 25% to 50% of the water 2 weeks apart.
The aquarium is about 2.5 gallons(I think)
No, it doesn't have a filter.

 

I normally change 25% to 50% of the water 2 weeks apart.
The aquarium is about 2.5 gallons(I think)
No, it doesn't have a filter.

With a tank this small without a filter you need to be changing out no less than 50% of the water every few days. I feel sure the ammonia levels in the tank are building up and this is why your bettas fins are deteriorating.

I am going to be very blunt here....If you don't do water changes every few days the water will get so toxic your fish will suffer and eventually die. Please read up on the nitrogen cycle and why it is important.

 

I'd also think about getting your betta a bigger size tank, they really need atleast 5 gallons. I know some people will say 3.5 gallons minimum, but 5 gallons is a good start and it helps to control the parameters inside your tank that keep your betta healthy. There is a tank on amazon right now that I've been watching, it's a marineland portrait 5 gallon and it's around 52 dollars, it has everything you'd need including the filter and light which you could plant with real plants and your betta would really enjoy that.

You could use your current tank right now as your hospital tank (need larger in future, but work with what you currently have) and correctly cycle a 5 gallon for when he's better.