Betta Biting His Own Tail Fins

[Mammabe1]

Hi,

I got this beautiful half moon betta, I tried to attach a pic but my pic is too large and I am not able to re-size it... anyway, when I got him his tail fin was full and round and then he started bending in half so that he could reach back to his tail fin and bite it! I have seen him do this several times and his tail fin is starting to split and become tattered like.... this is very weird behaviour. Anyone have any ideas what is going on?

He is in a little 5 gallon tank with water conditioner and heater but no filter but I have changed the water every week... He is my 4th Betta and I have never seen the likes of this self destructiveness. Anyway, any advice and/or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

B

 

[BerryAttack]

Either his tail itches, or he could be bored.

Try rearranging his tank or adding something new (plant, cave, rocks,etc).

You could also try putting a mirror outside his tank (no more than 1 hour a day or it can over stress him) to give him some exercise.

If possible also try adding one or two small water changes a week, I know everyone says once a week, blah blah blah, but by my own experiments with bettas and small tanks, they need cleaning more often than that. Males long fins are more sensitive to water conditions, so his tail could be bothering him. and add a filter.. they are always good.

 

[Mammabe1]

Either his tail itches, or he could be bored.

Try rearranging his tank or adding something new (plant, cave, rocks,etc).

You could also try putting a mirror outside his tank (no more than 1 hour a day or it can over stress him) to give him some exercise.

If possible also try adding one or two small water changes a week, I know everyone says once a week, blah blah blah, but by my own experiments with bettas and small tanks, they need cleaning more often than that. Males long fins are more sensitive to water conditions, so his tail could be bothering him. and add a filter.. they are always good.

HI,

Thanks for your ideas! I have added a few things to his tank and will try that, to change the water every 3 or 4 days instead of every week.... Ya, I would prefer to have a filter but he was an impulse buy because he was so beautiful and never saw any other fish like him! I will look into getting a little fiter too. I wish I could post a pic!! anyway, I want the best environment for him. My other bettas are each in 10 gallon tanks with filters, heaters, the whole 9 yards and they are all thriving for a few years now! They are such beautiful fish... Thanks again for your advice!

Brenda

 

[BerryAttack]

Either his tail itches, or he could be bored.

Try rearranging his tank or adding something new (plant, cave, rocks,etc).

You could also try putting a mirror outside his tank (no more than 1 hour a day or it can over stress him) to give him some exercise.

If possible also try adding one or two small water changes a week, I know everyone says once a week, blah blah blah, but by my own experiments with bettas and small tanks, they need cleaning more often than that. Males long fins are more sensitive to water conditions, so his tail could be bothering him. and add a filter.. they are always good.

HI,

Thanks for your ideas! I have added a few things to his tank and will try that, to change the water every 3 or 4 days instead of every week.... Ya, I would prefer to have a filter but he was an impulse buy because he was so beautiful and never saw any other fish like him! I will look into getting a little fiter too. I wish I could post a pic!! anyway, I want the best environment for him. My other bettas are each in 10 gallon tanks with filters, heaters, the whole 9 yards and they are all thriving for a few years now! They are such beautiful fish... Thanks again for your advice!

Brenda

yup no problem hope everything works out alright