Lesson Learned About Plastic Plants

[Sakura8]

I always had a suspicion it was the plastic plants in his tank that were ripping my Sherman's fins but I never had any solid proof until this morning when I noticed a rather sizeable piece wafting on the current, firmly stuck to one of the more spiky plants - like cloth stuck to a tree branch. It appears to be some kind of plastic hornwort or something similar. So now I know - bettas and spiky plastic do not mix. I can't take them out just yet but Sherman will have all fabric/silk or live plants in his new 3g tank. And a friendly warning to all: if your bettas fins are ripping and you have plastic plants, remove the plants before accusing your fish of being a tailbiter.

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

Yes, plastic plants can do a lot of damage to the boys.

They seem to be less of an issue for the girls. I have a plastic floating plant thingee in my 20H, and the girls go in it to sleep... it's like a big fishy hammock.

All my girls' fin damage is betta inflicted...

[Sakura8]

Once I got on the forum, I knew the plants weren't good but I just never got around to taking them out, plus I could never find fabric replacements or live plants that I liked. Poor Sherman's been paying the price for my laziness, though. His poor fins . . . can't wait until I can get the 3g up and running. I bought the JBJ Picotope but it didn't have a cover so I had to have one made, won't be done until Tuesday.

[Here Fishy Fishy Fishy]

Hmmm, that's an interesting looking tank. Definitely needs a cover. Are you going with a plexiglass?