[Newtonbetta]

I just purchased this delta a week ago. This is my first experience with the highly-webbed fish tails. I am used to crowntails...

Anyways, maybe I'm being paranoid, but I think i see a little slit in the webbing on the upper right of the back fin.

My question for all you experienced people with these types of tails is, how much slitting is normal? I mean, it seems hard to believe that they'd stay perfect, no matter how good the water quality. I keep the water clean, heated, filtered, etc. But when should I be concerned? He is obsessed with the betta log, always swimming in, out, and under it.

 

[Sena Hansler]

Every long finned betta will tear their fins now and then - whether flaring, plants, ornaments, or for no apparent reason :lol: when you should be concerned, is if infection or rot occurs - which if you do take good care of him, shouldn't be an issue. You also don't need to medicate for little tears and blown fins, they heal on their own

 

[True Indigo]

Sena has the right answer. As long as there are no other signs of stress or sickness, then there's nothing to worry about. If you'll look at my avatar of my fish, Gyarados, you'll see his fins torn and split. He's a tail biter, sadly, and often flares to the point of splitting his unusually long fins. However, he's as healthy as could be and never shows signs of stress or sickness.

I wouldn't worry too much, your delta probably just won't have "perfect" fins as much as we'd all probably like. That's just the general risk with long finned fish. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry. He's a beautiful one despite that.

 

[Newtonbetta]

thanks all!

 

[True Indigo]

No problem! You have one of the better deltas I've seen in that color so be proud. ^_^

 

[Sena Hansler]

He's so purty :3

 

[Newtonbetta]

Help guys.... This has gotten a LOT worse, in ONE day... Not sure what I'm doing wrong, this is an established tank. Todays water #s...

Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Hardness 25
Alk 60
Ph 6.5
Ammonia 0

10gal, divided, filtered with aqueon 20, 77F heated.

 

[Sena Hansler]

What type of plants do you have in there, and check the inside of any caves for rough edges. Remove all plastic plants, IMO, and just use silk/fabric plants.

Not sure from the picture, but could he be biting? Is the divider clear and another betta on the other side? Some bettas bite from this, some don't.

 

[Newtonbetta]

Plants are silk. Divider has plastic mesh that cannot be seen through.
I'm guessing it's the betta log ornament. He's always in it. It rests against the glass wall of the aquarium, and he loves to push up between the glass and the log to get in the other side of the log.

What type of plants do you have in there, and check the inside of any caves for rough edges. Remove all plastic plants, IMO, and just use silk/fabric plants.

Not sure from the picture, but could he be biting? Is the divider clear and another betta on the other side? Some bettas bite from this, some don't.

 

[Sena Hansler]

that might be why :lol: I try keeping all objects away from the tank sides, considering some of my boys love to try turning around in a small space - or my females get stuck :roll:

 

[True Indigo]

Also try to see if it might be biting. You can sometimes catch them in the act if they're doing these quick spins in a circle. Gyarados doesn't tend to do it while I'm watching so you might have to try from afar.

 

[Sena Hansler]

:lol: it's like a child!!! Does something bad when they think you aren't looking

 

[Newtonbetta]

I just took the log out - he's gonna miss it, but I didn't pay $30 for that beautiful tail to get all ragged

 

[Sena Hansler]

:lol: Well, let's hope it doesn't get torn!! If anything find a big cave with smooth insides. I have a ship that Georgie fits in without getting torn up.

 

[Newtonbetta]

A month into things, his tail is completely shredded. There is barely anything on his side of the tank to get caught on... The water parameters are unchanged... Honestly he's starting to look like a crowntail :-(.

 

[ninjafish]

I'm very sorry to hear about your bettas tail. I actually had the same thing happen to me with my old white delta male. I couldn't understand why his tail fin just got progressively more shredded..There was nothing to get caught on. Just silk plants, and he had plenty of room to swim.

I wish I could help more, but I will be following your thread..I want to find out what might cause such a thing, and what can be done to stop it in case I get a fish where it happens again..

 

[Newtonbetta]

I need people's help here, the rot is getting really, really bad. Fish shows no other sign of sickness. My results are below - if its not ammonia or nitrate/nitrite, where else should I be looking? This was a beautiful delta a month ago, now you would never know.

Ammonia 0
nitrate 10
nitrite 0
hardness 100
alk 40
ph 6.5

 

[dbooknook]

I think he is bored. Maybe he is a tail biter?

 

[Newtonbetta]

I considered that BUT at the pet shop he was in this tiny 1/2 gallon setup. and he was beautiful.. i dont know how he can go from worse conditions to better (5 gallons, heated, filtered) and deteriorate instantly.

 

[kfish]

Some bettas will START tailbiting when they go into a bigger tank from a smaller one.