Question:
I am so confused about my betta (related to previous q)?
?
2015-12-27 20:58:37 UTC
ive had him for 1 day
real sword leave plants
fake log
the rocks are not sharp or pointy

Im using API test strips
GH is 30
KH is40
PH is 7.5

ive added stress coat drops, melafix and betta water conditioner all from API

ive cycled the tank for 3 days now using the filter on the lowest setting

there are no tankmates, however i am planning to add 2 or 3 apple snails

what is ripping his fins?

20 litre tank



so, people have said to cycle the tank, which is impossible because i dont have a different tank to put the betta in unless i cycle that. AND, somone said that i need a tank that is at least 5 gallons (18L) and mine is a 20L tank, so i dont see a problem. I go to a very repitual store that hires people only with uni degrees involving animal sciences etc and they are very expirenced with fish. They said my tank was cycled for long enough (it was on high speed at the time- i later slowed it down when i added the fish)

what can i add or take away to make him better?

thanks
Four answers:
Akeath
2015-12-28 16:21:36 UTC
Get a length of pantyhose and run it along all the decorations. If any of them cause tears or runs in the pantyhose, those will be the culprit for the fin damage, too. Remove any problem decor, of course.



Some very powerful filters can catch a Betta's long fins in the filter intake, and he can tear them escaping from it. You might consider adding a pre-filter foam to rule out this possibility.



If the edges of his fin are dark, red, or slimy he could have a bacterial infection called fin rot that will cause his fins to deteriorate and tear. You would normally treat with an antibiotic for this. Since Melafix is a mild antibiotic you are probably already covered if this is the case.



In a small number of cases, there are Bettas that will intentionally bite off pieces of their own fins. This can happen from stress or boredom from a variety of factors. I had one that did this - I finally found out the light was too bright for him, and a dimmer light fixed the problem. But other people have found that their Betta does it from too strong a current, improper temperature, too small of a tank, not enough variety in tank decorations, etc. The damage from tail biting is rather unique looking, they'll be missing large chunks deep down into the fin while the rest looks fairly long and even. This is much less likely to be an issue than the others, though. Watching him carefully and extensively, you should be able to catch him in the act if that's what's happening.



On a side note, it takes 4-6 weeks with a fish or other source of waste in the aquarium and a filter running to cycle an aquarium. With a fish already in the tank, you are doing a fish-in cycle. Daily water changes to combat the spikes in Ammonia and Nitrites that will inevitably take place during the cycling period would be a good idea. Especially if he has fin damage. Even if he doesn't have fin rot yet, it can easily set in as a secondary infection if the fin has already been damaged, and that's especially likely in an uncycled aquarium. So keep the water pristine with daily water changes to make sure he doesn't get sick. After the 4-6 weeks are up, you can go down to weekly partial water changes.



Oh, and I don't recommend Apple Snails with Bettas. That's because the long, thick antennae of the Apple Snails can prove irritable to the Bettas, and they are known to bite them off. That will be quite painful to the Apple Snails. Instead, you would be better off getting a snail with clear antennae that don't induce a feeding response in the Betta. Personally, I've kept Olive Nerite Snails and Tracked Nerite snails with my Bettas, both of which have hardly noticeable antennae, and these have worked very nicely. These are also better algae eaters than Apple Snails, and can not breed in fresh water. Nerites would make a much safer alternative to Mystery or Apple Snails. Don't forget to add in a calcium supplement, such as a small piece of unflavored cuttlebone, for your snails.
Haley
2015-12-27 23:20:56 UTC
Amazon swords and many other plants have been known to cause betta's fins to rip. I have also heard of bettas getting stressed in tanks that are too large, especially if they aren't fully covered in hiding spots. Although, that's usually only when housed in a 20 gallon aquarium give or take. Stress can cause them to fin bite. From your pictures in the previous question I'd say the plants are the culprit. They may not look or feel sharp to you, but a betta's fins are like tissue paper in water. They are extremely fragile, some more than others. The pics show a HUGE difference in just one day and even fin rot/fin biting would be hard pressed to cause that much damage within a day. Also, fin biting is usually found mostly on the cadual fin, not the anal fin like your pics show. Damage to the anal fin could indicate your fish is scraping his fins along the plants.
?
2015-12-27 21:02:46 UTC
Sorry i only read half of it. But maybe he his hitting himself against the glass or got caught in the filter.
Aron
2015-12-27 21:08:58 UTC
you do know you can do a fish in cycle right? that is what you are doing now.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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