Not a monster, but a question about my other tank!

[Kustrud]

If you haven't seen my other threads, I have a 75 gallon tank that I have documented well here. Didn't feel like joining another forum so figured I'd post here for some help.

I have a little 5 gallon Beta fish tank in my daughter's room that she loves! It's just the one Beta fish, water changes done weekly at a minimum and parameters never exceed 5 PPM nitrates really. So tank stays clean and healthy.

Over the past 2 weeks we noticed the tail fins have been "shrinking." I don't understand what it could be. Tank is probably 8 months old and perfectly stable.

Fish acts fine, greets you at tank, eats well, etc.

I ordered some fin-rot medicine just to be safe and also did a deep-clean by removing everything in the tank and cleaning in hot water. The only thing I did not clean with hot water was the filter media which sat in a bucket of tank water while I did this.

She did have a couple décor pieces in there with some "sharper" features so we did remove those and replace with what is shown here in case the fish was tearing it's fins on that.

If that filter output makes too much current - could that do it?

I don't know much about Betas....any ideas?

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

What temp do you keep the tank at?

The edges look too "clean" to be torn. It's hard to say because of the dark colour of his fins, but what I can see does look like fin rot. All you need to clear up fin rot in bettas is extremely clean water (do 90% water changes daily), heat (turn it up to about 86°) and salt (1 tbsp per 5 gal, remember to replace for the new water ONLY at every water change).

Fin nipping is also extremely common in bettas with heavy, flowy fins - I would expect it to look more torn as well, but given his environment it's not unlikely. I know you said you removed some decor, but he needs more decor than you've left him with desperately - rocks, wood, plants (artificial is fine) to keep him stimulated, provide cover, AND provide him spots to rest. All those heavy long fins take a serious toll and he needs at least one spot just under the surface that he can rest and not have to work so hard to get to the top to breath all the time.

 

[Kustrud]

What temp do you keep the tank at?

The edges look too "clean" to be torn. It's hard to say because of the dark colour of his fins, but what I can see does look like fin rot. All you need to clear up fin rot in bettas is extremely clean water (do 90% water changes daily), heat (turn it up to about 86°) and salt (1 tbsp per 5 gal, remember to replace for the new water ONLY at every water change).

Fin nipping is also extremely common in bettas with heavy, flowy fins - I would expect it to look more torn as well, but given his environment it's not unlikely. I know you said you removed some decor, but he needs more decor than you've left him with desperately - rocks, wood, plants (artificial is fine) to keep him stimulated, provide cover, AND provide him spots to rest. All those heavy long fins take a serious toll and he needs at least one spot just under the surface that he can rest and not have to work so hard to get to the top to breath all the time.

Great info. thank you!

Gotcha, so he needs some more stuff in there huh? And fin-nipping....are you saying they nip their own fins??

I can pull a rock and some fake plants from my big tank to give him some more resting places!

 

[Kustrud]

Sorry - temp is at 80 degrees!

 

[Sinister-Kisses]

Bettas absolutely nip their own fins. Not every single one, some will and some won't. But it's very common in the long, heavy fin types. They can't move and will nip their own fins down in a desperate attempt to swim easier. That's why I only ever bred plakats.

80° is okay as his regular temp, but I'd up it to help him heal for a while.

 

[DawnMichele]

Hello. I agree with Sinister-Kisses. He needs more decor. This is my Betta tank.