What do you think happened to my betta?

Question

He was fine last night, but when I woke up this morning he had a chunk of his tail missing. He lives with four harlequin rasboras (which are afraid of him, and peaceful anyways) and three albino corys (which he plays with). I don't believe its fin rot as its just two of the little ridge parts, all the way gone on down to his body. (If you look at a betta's fins, you'll notice that there's little sections in them. Two of his are gone.) Anyone have this problem before? What do you think has happened to him? I feel bad for him and want to take away whatever may have ripped his fins. I also have two little hiding cave things for them. They don't seem very sharp, they're all rounded edges. Suggestions?

Answer 1

maybe he cut it on the cave but if you think he did not he probably just got nipped by one of the cory's while he was playing. they're fins are very delicate, it wouldn't be hard to do. if i were you, as long as it doesn't happen again i wouldnt stress about it, his fins will grow back, just keep an eye on him. two of my guppies always play and one got nipped and part of his tail broke off, it didn't seem to bother him and it grew back in two weeks. i used a treatment called melafix which isn't really a medicine since it's mostly tea tree oil, but it is very good for fin damage and healed the wound quickly. it does not harm the other fish or the beneficial bacteria, it is also used as a treatment for fin rot (so just in case) and people use it when introducing new fish to aquariums, i suggest you try it! good luck! with your betta!

to the answer above, bettas are fine with other fish!! i have mine in a community tank he is happy and so are the other fish. they like enclosed spaces (lots of plants) not tiny restricting bowls, and only fight with species that looks similar to them or are agressive fin nippers. bettas being solitary fish that like tiny bowls is a myth to sell them to people as "pocket pets". poor fish.

Answer 2

Some Bettas do something called Tail Biting.  That is when they actually bite chunks out of their own tail.  I don't think it is the other fish that are doing it, because those are both very peaceful fish.  This thread has pictures of a wounds for tail-biting, so you can see if that is what is happening: http://www.ultimatebettas.com/index.php?...

No one knows for sure why they do it.  Some say stress, some say boredom.  I suggest researching it on that forum, if that's what it looks like, and seeing if there are any tricks on there to help your little guy out.  

Answer 3

Remove the betta fish from the fish tank/bowl.  Betta fish aren't meant to live with other fish in am aquarium.  They're usually aggressive and territorial towards other fish, particularly other Betta fish.

Answer 4

Bettas flare when they are trying to be defensive or show off. This is really common if they see another betta, or if you show them a mirror. It is normal for the "flaps" to puff out on the sides (I call it a beard :o)).

The other fish may have nipped him, or he may have nipped himself. Bettas will eat their own tails if they become agitated or stressed out.

It's also common for them to rip their tails on things in their environment, such as rough plastic plants or tank decorations. Their tails are very delicate tissue.

If he's always gotten along swimmingly with his tankmates, I'd guess it's tail biting or environmental.

Watch his fins for signs of rotting (reddening at the tips), and treat him accordingly if he starts to look like he needs it.  

Answer 5

Betta fish are not suppose to live with other fish. You may want to search the web a little bit more.

Answer 6

Fishes are cannibals.

The other fishes probably ate it.

Beta Fishes aren't community fish, and are commonly known as Siamese Fighting fish!

Answer 7

You're right about the other fish being peaceful, thus extremely unlikely they'd do the the nipping.  Fin biting themselves is new to me, and I just read the article about it.  Read especially about the stress factors, and if any of these are present, remove them.  (Bright lights, mirrors,

I think this is the specific site  Akeath was trying to direct you to.  At least it was an article on this subject.

I'm not sure about the holes.  If they don't seem to bother him, don't worry about it unless they get larger or infected.

http://bettysplendens.com/articles/page....