Betta Tail And Fin Gone Overnight

[friendsnotfood]

Hi
 
I have had a Betta now for about 3 months. He had seemed fine up until now, not shown any signs of illness or tail/fin issues. My son spotted him this morning and he has absolutely no fins or tails left at all, just bones sticking out.
This has literally happened overnight.
 
Sorry, I was rushing out door, so haven't measure levels of tank. The only thing that has changed in my tank since getting him was that I added 2 Dwarf Gouramis 2 weeks ago. I have not seen them go near him or nip him or anything, at least when I've been watching (although one does keep nipping the other I've noticed).
 
Can anyone help me with what has happened please? I fear it may be too late for this poor fella (I'd be surprised if he's alive when I get home) but would like to learn if there is something I could have done to prevent this.
I know that they can regrow fins etc, but am I right that its probably too late for him, is there anything I can do?
 
Thanks

 

[Far_King]

How big is the tank?  It would be preferable to keep a male betta alone.  They have been known to shred their own fins when under stress.  Gourami can also be territorial.

 

[fluttermoth]

Gouramis and bettas are quite closely related, and should never be kept together, I'm afraid.

Your fish may recover, but you'll need to keep the water pristine and keep a close eye out for any secondary infections, like fungus, which will need medicating. And separate him from the gouramis, of course.

 

[friendsnotfood]

The tank is a 200L tank.
 
Do you think my Gouramis are to blame or the betta did it to itself due to stress? Either way one lot need to go I guess.
 
That will teach me to go to a chain pet store that sells fish instead of my usual independent fish shop that talks through your whole tank with you
 
Thanks for your replies so far

 

[nic1]

oh no, let us know how he is when you get back, until you can rehome one or the others you separate him with a divider or his own floating breeders box till he recovers enough.

 

[friendsnotfood]

Goodness knows what on earth has been going on!
When I got home tonight  (after stopping to buy a breeding trap for him) there is no sign of my poor little betta anywhere, I have moved bogwood and been through plants and nothing, he has gone
 
However, something I have now noticed, and have no idea at all if it was like it this morning, but I suspect so - my thermometer is missing its bottom piece of glass (which I've retrieved off of bottom of tank). Perhaps this happened yesterday/last night and he caught his fins? Although I've never seen him over that part of the tank before?

So im clueless and have no fish to save. RIP fella

 

[HarpyFishLover]

 

[Munroco]

Has the mercury (or whatever was in your thermometer) leeched into the water?

 

[friendsnotfood]

Well I've now found him, no idea where he was hiding. He's in a breeding tank. Now just to see if he makes it over the next couple of days.
Thankfully the bottom glass bit smashed but the actual thermometer inside stayed intact

 

[Munroco]

Update?

 

[nic1]

glad you found him, let us know how hes getting on.