[deso]

Hello, this isn't an emergency, but my halfmoon betta boy seems to always tear his fins during water changes. I assume it's because he's trying to swim away from me and the net or cup so vigourosly that he "blows" his fins. He heals the rips within a few days and seems perfectly healthy otherwise, but I'd like to know if there's any way to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shirleythebetta]

Don't chase him with the cup. Try to coax him in. Don't use a net because a net will damage fins. I put the cup behind mine and gently tap the side and they usually go in fine. If not I remove some water so they have less room to run.

 

[deso]

Thanks, I'll get rid of the net and try to take it slow for the next water change. He's such a resistant and fast little thing, he didn't even fall for the "food in cup as bait" trick the last time I tried it, nor does lowering the water level make him any easier to catch (which is why I recently bought a net in the first place).

 

[Shirleythebetta]

fast little stinker eh? It takes time. Keep trying with the cup and move slower. He will eventually get used to it. My Red swims into the cup now when I lower it. It's hilarious. He's like, "Okay mom, time to clean my room"