Theory Of Why Bettas Fins Split

Some of you might know that I've been considering getting some corys to go in with Steve and the otos so obviously I've been researching them half to death. Something really made me think though. I read that you shouldn't have gravel with corys because of the gunk that can collect in it. By nature corys are on the bottom of the tank a lot and it can cause the barbels to disintegrate. So I was thinking... bettas spend a good proportion of the day on the floor of the tank too, sleeping, foraging etc. So is it inconceivable that any normal gunk in the gravel that would harm a cory's barbels be causing Steve's tail to split so regularly?
I'm going to be changing to sand probably this weekend so I'll let you know if it makes any difference for him

i must say i keep Bettas on both Gravel & sand, the ones on the gravel do have tatty edges whereas the ones on sand do not

Well it's been a week since I put the sand in and he's looking great! No split fins at all, not even little minor ones. Fingers crossed it stays that way but it's looking good!

Excellent!!

Bettas prefer to hang and sleep at the top of the tank where they can easily gulp air from the surface. If you have a quiet area of the tank away from any water current flow from the filter you can try getting some plastic leafy plants that come up to about a half inch from the top of the water level. Your Betta might find it a splendid bed to sleep and rest on.

Or you can try making a Betta bed as I did (see picture). I just used some nice soft lengthy plastic leaves and threaded them onto some suction cups. This allows me to adjust the height of the bed to be just below the water level with them sitting on it. I have to lower the bed a little as they grow so their head is just below the surface when they sit on the bed. ALL my Bettas absolutely love these beds. That's Cutie Pie on one of the beds I made in the picture. He was about 22 months old at the time.

My betta made his bed under the filter. He actually likes to PLAY in the current! Weirdo Betta.

Dieses Madchen said:

My betta made his bed under the filter. He actually likes to PLAY in the current! Weirdo Betta.

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He's not wierd. I've had plenty of Bettas that like to play in the current. My female does this all the time and my young male goes body surfing in the current. No kidding. The water return from my bio-wheel filters comes out at the top left rear corner, travels along the top towards the front of the tank and then hits the front glass and is forced downward and as it hits the bottom it is pushed toward the right side of the tank. Puppy likes to play at the bottom swimming into the current until he gets under where it is pushing down, then he faces front and lets the water current push him sideways to the right of the tank. He'll do this over and over and over. He can body surf the current three quarters the length of his 20 gal home. He's funny.

Whisper said:

Dieses Madchen said:

My betta made his bed under the filter. He actually likes to PLAY in the current! Weirdo Betta.

Click to expand...

He's not wierd. I've had plenty of Bettas that like to play in the current. My female does this all the time and my young male goes body surfing in the current. No kidding. The water return from my bio-wheel filters comes out at the top left rear corner, travels along the top towards the front of the tank and then hits the front glass and is forced downward and as it hits the bottom it is pushed toward the right side of the tank. Puppy likes to play at the bottom swimming into the current until he gets under where it is pushing down, then he faces front and lets the water current push him sideways to the right of the tank. He'll do this over and over and over. He can body surf the current three quarters the length of his 20 gal home. He's funny.

Click to expand...

My Betta, Blue, was in a filtered tank but the filter freaked him out. After a week, I could bear to see him so miserable, so I moved him to a smaller unfiltered tank (with plants!) and he is really happy that way. Rockstar didn't care either way. He was in the ten gallon until he ripped his fins, now he is in a two gallon hospital tank being treated (his fins are almost back to normal!) also with plants, no filter, and he is good. Both are heated though. But Flare, he will swim over to the filter and ride the current over and over. He thinks he is a Rasbora, as he tends to swim with the school as well. Its so funny cause he is HUGE compared to them.

But I am happy, cause today I started adding REAL plants! YAY!!