Betta Fin Condition

[Plecc]

Hi,

One of my tanks is home to a pack of coridoras a bamboo shrimp and a male Betta.
Its a 60L running a Fluval 105 and a spray bar.
The others are well established and healthy, but the Betta has only been in the tank for just under a month.
Within a few days of bringing the fighter home i began to notice his fins starting to get a bit tatty, 24 hours later things were looking a bit worse.
So I dosed the tank with Melafix for a week, after a few days he had fully recovered and a week later things were still looking good.
I thought this was likely due to the stress of transporting and being in a new tank.
But within the last few days things have started to deteriorate again.
What are the most likely causes of this?
I haven't noticed any fin nipping or aggression between the Cory's and the Betta whatsoever, its almost as if the fighter sees them as substrate!
i do a 30-40% water change each week.

 

[-FighterFishh]

It could be fin rot or he could be biting his tail.
Have you noticed the fins developing a black edging since you got him?

 

[Plecc]

Nope no black edges,
colour wise he is stunning, a navy blue body bright red fins blending into light blue at the edges.
I don't think its fin rot the fins don't look corroded, its only on the tail fin all others look fine it looks more like small chunks pulled off or snagged on something.
Also with a few splits 1/2 the length of the tail.
Does this sound like he could be biting his own tail?

 

[-FighterFishh]

Ah, sounds like he might be! They bite their tails when they get bored or stressed. I have a biter ATM and he's a right pain!
You can try to entertain him a little by maybe changing around his surroundings (adding or removing plants and ornaments) or maybe try dropping a ping pong ball onto the surface for a couple days a week to keep him entertained.

 

[Plecc]

I think its more likely stress than boredom, I must have something not quite right.
What are the best plants for them to hide in and rest on?
i think the flow in the tank may be a bit too high for him, the spray bar faces down the back of the tank slightly towards the glass about 2" below the surface.
So the top of the tank is very calm, but sometimes it looks like he struggles to find a calm resting spot when at the bottom of the tank.
I will defiantly give the ping pong ball a go, it will be interesting to see what he makes of it

 

[-FighterFishh]

He'd like broad leafed plants near the surface to sit on, though I'm afraid I can't give you any suggestions with that. He might also like a cave, that could give him a little protection from any flow that's too high?

Sounds good! Try not to put it in too much, that way it'll be interesting to him for longer.

 

[Plecc]

Thanks for the feedback,

I was thinking about bending a small sheet of perspex to hang on the inside of the tank and bend a C shape in the lower bit, so it creates a clear tunnel about 2" below the water surface.
Do u think he would use it? he is very inquisitive.

 

[-FighterFishh]

He might do, it's worth a try!

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Hi,

One of my tanks is home to a SCHOOL/SHOAL of CORYDORAS a bamboo shrimp and a male Betta.
Its a 60L running a Fluval 105 and a spray bar.
The others are well established and healthy, but the Betta has only been in the tank for just under a month.
Within a few days of bringing the fighter home i began to notice his fins starting to get a bit tatty, 24 hours later things were looking a bit worse.
So I dosed the tank with Melafix for a week, after a few days he had fully recovered and a week later things were still looking good.
I thought this was likely due to the stress of transporting and being in a new tank.
But within the last few days things have started to deteriorate again.
What are the most likely causes of this?
I haven't noticed any fin nipping or aggression between the Cory's and the Betta whatsoever, its almost as if the fighter sees them as substrate!
i do a 30-40% water change each week.

Apologies, it's my bug bear