Betta Charlie Starting to Have Shredded Looking Fins

[Charlie’s Keeper]

Hi there!

About a month ago I posted a form here: http://www.fishforums.net/threads/do-charlies-fins-look-normal.450885/#post-3809580

about my betta Charlie. He was looking good for about a month but all of a sudden over two days his fins have started looking shredded at the ends. I’ve attached pictures but I’m very worried and wondering what is the best way to treat this. I’ve been doing weekly 70% water changes but I’ve read the ‘what to do when your fish gets sick’ thread and will be staring to do water changes every day. Any advice on what to buy to help him would be great.

 

[Charlie’s Keeper]

I’ve been watching him tonight and he’s been swimming in circles and it looks like he’s biting the ends of his tail?

 

[Colin_T]

It doesn't look infected and the fact he had been fine for the last month would indicate it's unlikely to be a disease.

If the fish is biting his own tail he could have a psychological issue, possibly boredom. Make sure there is plenty of plants and hiding places in the tank. Perhaps put a mirror next to his tank for a few minutes and then remove the mirror. You can do this a couple of times a week and it will simulate another male Betta swimming into his territory, and your male can show off and then chase it away. The reflection in the mirror is the other fish and it swims off when you remove the mirror.

Possibly get a female and put her in a separate tank near him so he can see her. This might reduce his tail nipping.

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You can try adding rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt), sea salt or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres. The salt can help with minor infections if there is one.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, Bettas, gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria but the higher dose rate will affect some plants. The lower dose rate will not affect plants.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that.