fins tearing

[sniper8752]

i think my betta's (male) fins are tearing... what can this be? he has been producing bubble nests... 10 gallon tank, and i clean it out every week.

thanks!

[Creat]

A little more info would help use the sticky on the emergency page but it could be from a number of things. How often do you clean the tank? How much? is it heated? It could be from a tearing it on something, he could be biting it, or it could be fin rot.

[sniper8752]

i'm thinking it is fin rot. will do water parameter measurements. i clean it once a week. i empty almost half of the water. and why would he bite at his own fins? i think i will take out the decorations though, which may also be a source... do you think this would disturb his bubble nest though, and make him angry? i guess it is better than him dying...

[sniper8752]

parameteres:
ammonia: .25-.50 ppm
nitrite/nitrate: 0ppm

will do a water change, and take out all decorations. should i buy fin rot medicines for the tank?

[JessG]

Your ammonia is up at levels that are hurting your fish. Get him out into a small container you can clean frequently (more than once a day), and wait for the ammonia levels to drop down to 0 in the tank. Then your nitrites and nitrates levels will rise. When everything settles down and stabilizes, you'll be in better shape for your fish.

You can do partial water changes to get him through this rough patch while his tank cycles, but it sounds like the ammonia is already making him sick, so better get him out while things even out in the tank.

Good luck.

Jess

[Creat]

Pictures would help determine if it is fin rot. Betta bite their fins if they feel there to long it happens to longer tailed fish. or because there stressed much in the way birds pluck their feathers. I would buy the meds but I would also get aquarium salt to add to help the tail heal too. I would start just with more water changes and adding aquarium salt and if it worsens its fin rot but aq salt will help fins heal. But pics would help :) Ha ha he might be a little peeved you destroyed his bubble nest but he should fix it right up. And I would change his water twice a week one 50% one 100% so ammonia and nitrate doesnt build up. Hope he gets better :)

[sniper8752]

added a spoonful of salt, took out decorations, and did 50% water change... will take out more water again tomorrow... will try to get pics up here asap... i wonder if my water levels are naturally high in ammonia?? could that be? i just did the water change on saturday... could it be the algae? and should i still consider buying the tail fin rot meds? and they also mentioned on a forum they the bacteria can't survive in 82 degrees f. water... should i turn it up that high to kill it?

[sniper8752]

here are the pics: http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/...ccb005cc6g.jpg (hopefully you can view them all...)

[Creat]

what kind of salt? You CANNOT use regular table salt you have to get aquarium salt for this. Some bacteria can survive but turning it up to 80* would help your fish.

[sniper8752]

yep, aquarium salt! and will make sure that the temp is set to 80.... from the pictures, can you tell if it is tail fin rot?