Biting tail? :(

[Raechal]

So I noticed Deiter's tail looke a lot shorter than it used to be about a week ago. I didn't really think anything of it as maybe I was just used to seeing my other betta's tails who were always longer than Deiter's since I got him. He is in an unfiltered 10 gallon which I do 90% water changes on every 2-3 days. The tank was seeded with a filter pad from my 120 gallon and it is now cycled I believe.

It looks as of a strand of his tail has been bitten off. I vaccuumed the gravel and didn't see any signs of any tail anywhere. I don't know what to do. I tested the water and everything is always fine.

 

[eudielynn]

My guess is tail-biting. I came home one evening and found Batista's tail fin in shreds. He looked like he'd morphed from a veiltail to a crowntail in one day. There were no sharp objects in his tank for him to tear it on, no filter to catch it in, and nothing else in the tank with him. I keep up with water changes faithfully and have never had a problem with the other tanks so I didn't think that could be it. I did the usual water change, added salt, added bettafix and all was fine . . . until the next time.

I have done everything I could think of for him, added a snail, changed the type of tank he was in, bought new cave and silk plants. Got a heater that kept his temp stable, put more variety into his diet. All goes well for a few weeks, and then he bites it again.

There is never any sign of fins in his tank so he has got to be biting his tail and eating it. He is extremely high strung and tempermental. I think it is just part of his character.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Is he in with any other fish? Is tail biting be linked to boredom? I heard that animals like parrots will pluck their own feathers out to keep themselves occupied if their enviroment isn't mentally chalenging enough and hamsters will also throw themsleves off objects to entertain themselves if in similar situation etc etc.
It might be worth getting him a tank mate of some kind if he already hasn't got one to keep him interested in his enviroment and not his tail, no? Just a theory.

 

[Kingsnorky]

I'd suggest geting a female betta put it in another tank and put the tank right next to his.
My betta had the same thing but then I got a female and hes never done it since.
To busy looking at her.

 

[BettaMomma]

Tail biting is also a hereditary thing. And yes, they do eat the tail parts they bite off. I saw Amos do it one day.

 

[Kiarra]

Put some Blackwater Extract or Indian Almond Leaves in his water. It'll calm him immensely, and should stop him from biting his tail. Also, it'll help it heal faster.

 

[Raechal]

A female is constantly next to his tank. Should I remove her for awhile? I've enevr actually seen him do it. I play with my bettas once a day. usualling with my finger or something.

 

[Raechal]

His tail seems to be growing back nicely, but I checked on Cotton Candy's tank and his tail is chewed off as well. I didn't feed them for a day...could they just be really hungry?

 

[Kiarra]

Not being fed for one lone day isn't going to hurt them any, nor should it cause them to turn to trying to eat themselves. It could be a matter of boredom, or stress over something. Or he could have just plain old snagged it on something.

 

[Raechal]

Not being fed for one lone day isn't going to hurt them any, nor should it cause them to turn to trying to eat themselves. It could be a matter of boredom, or stress over something. Or he could have just plain old snagged it on something.

There is nothing they could have snagged it on in the tank...Well I can't guarantee that...but it doesn't look like it is snagged. It looked like it has been chewed off.