SERIOUS BETTA PROBLEM

[Richie Lucas]

Hey guys, my betta has only been in my tank 1 day, and this evening ive just noticed all its fins on the back and top have disappeared and all that is left are like hair strands!

Its also not looking in very good condition and it looks like u can see all its veins ect

Ive put it in a net in the corner of the tank for now as i fear it may have been attacked? Do you think this is the case?

 

[WILDER]

What other fish are you keeping it with.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Ive put it in a net in the corner of the tank for now as i fear it may have been attacked? Do you think this is the case?

Possibly,depends on what you keep with him. It also could have been the filter intake.

 

[Richie Lucas]

Its been kept with 3 mollies, 4 platies and 5 tetras

How would the filter intake cause it?

 

[wuvmybetta]

If he swims up against it,it could very well suck the finnage right off. I would say the tetras though. Guilty!! Guilty!!

 

[GSD]

platys IMO,i had a betta in my tank when i didnt know any better!it was dead in 2 days,i had a mollie and 7 platys and 5 tetras the betta lost all its fins and got an infection.it happened overnight so i couldnt do anything,in the morning he was stilll alive so i treated him but it was too late seperate him ASAP and treat him with salt baths and/or meilfix and stress coat.if you dont seperate he might not have long left

 

[Richie Lucas]

One tetra was picking at it when i was netting it up

Any ideas on what i can do for the poor betta?

 

[Richie Lucas]

does this mean i have to go out and buy a seperate tank?

i dont know if i can afford to do it, would my local Maidenhead aquatics have him back and fix him?

 

[wuvmybetta]

does this mean i have to go out and buy a seperate tank?

i dont know if i can afford to do it, would my local Maidenhead aquatics have him back and fix him?

If you have a large bowl or vase,you can fix him up in there. Or keep him in the breeder net for the time being. Although I've found that clean water heals damaged fins better than cycled water.

If you take him back,you must be certain that the shop will indeed care for him and heal him. Not just set him in a cup in the back somewhere. Karma will come back to bite you

I say keep him and fix him.

 

[Richie Lucas]

i say that too, but how will i keep the temperature up in a large vase/bowl?

 

[wuvmybetta]

What temperature does your house usually sit?

 

[Richie Lucas]

quite low i live in the UK in quite a large house so the temperature varies greatly, and we have a very temperamental boiler that doesnt like to kick in alot of the time so i cant guarantee the place will stay warm

I have a spare Rena 100w heater but ill have trouble with that wont i

 

[xanthianacid]

No matter how he ended up with torn fins (ie a filter or another fish) all the fish will have a go at the fins. It's just the way they are unfortunately. It happened to a big angel we have, he was the biggest in the tank but still was attacked by everyone once enough damage was inflicted. Best thing to do now is get him into an emergency hospital tank, being a Betta makes it easy as you don't need a filter, but change the water everyday probably 50% and use that heater anyway, even if you don't think it's great, it's better than nothing. Melafix him of course, and don't expect him to eat but offer him little bits anyway, they'll get cleaned out in water changes as you go if he can't eat yet. Good luck and keep us posted.

Cheers, Xan

 

[xanthianacid]

What I mean by emergency tank could be anything that holds water, but preferably something see through.

 

[Richie Lucas]

cool cheers for that advice. What shall i do with regards filling up a hospital tank? Shall i just put dechlorinated water in there and put it into it or will it harm the betta? Also will it be possible at any time to reintroduce it back into the tank with the others or will the same happen