Betta'S Fin All Torn Up. . .Ials To Blame?

[GuppyGoddess]

One of my bettas has been completely satisfied in his 5-gallon tank and so the other day I added a 1" X 1" piece of Indian Almond Leaf and about two days later, I noticed part of one of his tail fins (he's a double tailed little guy) is all torn up.

Anyone heard of a betta having a negative reaction to IALs? I took the leaf piece out and have done two water changes and it appears he's doing a bit better. In addition to the fin shredding, he DID blow a bubble nest, which seems like *some* sort of reaction did occur after the leaf bit was added.

Any experiences?

Thanks.

 

[soph_betta]

I personally only use the IAL extract now as when I first kept bettas I had one in my tank and had the same problem as it was drifting around with the slight current of the water, the betta kept chasing it and the dried ones stay quite hard and sharp, even in the water and he caugght his tail on it!
Threr was nothing else it could have been as all I had was a thick bunch of live plants!

 

[ellena]

Do you think the leaf has torn his tail or caused him to shred his own tail?
What else is in the tank?

 

[Lacuna]

Well now this has got me thinking. My betta's tail was all tatty when I bought him and had been healing really nicely, lots of new growth. Then just over a week ago he got a huge slit in his tail. Then some got torn off, and then there were more slits In the tank is just plants, some plants on bogwood, moss balls, smooth pebbles, and two indian almond leaves, all been in there as long as he has. I took some bogwood out, but now I'm thinking it was the IAL, as I had taken an old one out and put a new one in. His tail is a mess now, but I'm sure it's not fin rot, and the slits suggest he didn't bite it. I'm going to take the leaves out and see. But yeah, looks like they might cause it.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hvaent heard of any negative reactions, but perhaps take out for the moment but be aware it may have been only coincidence. Keep the water sparkling and sure his fins will grow back in no time x

 

[theshadowinc]

One of my bettas has been completely satisfied in his 5-gallon tank and so the other day I added a 1" X 1" piece of Indian Almond Leaf and about two days later, I noticed part of one of his tail fins (he's a double tailed little guy) is all torn up.

Anyone heard of a betta having a negative reaction to IALs? I took the leaf piece out and have done two water changes and it appears he's doing a bit better. In addition to the fin shredding, he DID blow a bubble nest, which seems like *some* sort of reaction did occur after the leaf bit was added.

Any experiences?

Thanks.

I use the IAL only for breeding and conditioning the female for the water. Having experience breeding them and actually watching the female in action, its not uncommon for the female to become skiterish and want to hide from the male and I would say 50% of the fins being destroyed isn't from the fights they have in the tank its sometimes stuff like the corner filter, heater, IAL that sunk to the bottom where she goes to hide. Having gravel sometimes leads to this as well where they scratch themselves on the gravel swimming like Mario Endredy. But like you stated you added the leaf and he blew a bubble nest? Thats becuase you are making conditions for breeding they love to breed with IAL. I try not to have full leafs in the tank and always make the solution the only tanks I keep the IAL in is breeding tanks. The only time I have run into what you are thinking is with a female not a male. Can always try removing the leaf and healing the little fella and then trying it again and see what happens. Guessing its a male,....