Betta's Finns Torn Apart

[Piperbella25]

I have my betta (Octavian) in a gallon fish bowl with gravel, a little betta fake plant, and a fake little floating lilly pad. I went to feed him this morning and noticed that his beautiful finns were all ripped up. He has a neighbor betta, but I usually keep something in between them so they are not always seeing each other (I read that a betta neighbor was good for stimulation). I have no idea how his fins got ripped up, does anyone have any ideas?

 

[AmberLynn]

are the plants like a hard plastic with sharp edges? He may have ripped his fins on that

 

[Piperbella25]

No, it is a soft plant. I have no idea how he could of ripped himself up like that. But he just died in the last hour . I would love to figure out how he did this so I can keep my other Bettas from doing it as well

 

[ReMz]

Sounds like he probably had a bad case of fin rot.... and definitely something else. Some bettas are tail biters.... but this certainly doesn't sound like the case. Where all of his fins torn up or just his tail fin?

How long have you had him?
Was he acting lethargic?
What do you do for tank maintenance and how often?

Very very very very very slim chance (but I have heard of it happening), the neighboring betta might have jumped into his tank, done some damage, and then jumped back over.... but this is unlikely and you obviously would know if that were even possible given your setup.

sorry to hear about your loss. answer those questions so we can help you figure out what went wrong.

 

[newfishy]

it is possible that without lids on the bowls, or even some tiny hole in a lid that one betta jumped into the other bowl, ripped the other betta up and jumped back.


but much more likely the betta was very very stressed chewed his own fins apart due to stress and then died.

 

[Piperbella25]

He wasn't lethargic, and he never acted sick in any way. I do bowl changes every four days and partial water changes every other day. His neighbor is a good foot and some change away from him. All of his finns were ripped and torn, and they looked somewhat knotted at the ends of them. I've had him about a year now.
Thank you, I really liked him. He would come to the edge of the bowl when I would walk in the room and would follow me if I walked to the other side. I'll miss him.

 

[ReMz]

He wasn't lethargic, and he never acted sick in any way. I do bowl changes every four days and partial water changes every other day. His neighbor is a good foot and some change away from him. All of his finns were ripped and torn, and they looked somewhat knotted at the ends of them. I've had him about a year now.
Thank you, I really liked him. He would come to the edge of the bowl when I would walk in the room and would follow me if I walked to the other side. I'll miss him.

oh wow.... from your description, it sounded like you had only had him a day or two.

That is very odd then..... I'm not sure what would cause such a dramatic change. Fin rot can take over very fast if you don't notice it right away.... that is the only explanation I have for you. Unless it was just his tail fin.... then he could have been biting his tail. That still doesn't explain such a sudden death.

There is no chance that anything foreign (as in chemicals) could have gotten into the bowl?

Again, I'm very sorry. It's never fun losing a betta. My condolences.

 

[Syphoniera]

He wasn't lethargic, and he never acted sick in any way. I do bowl changes every four days and partial water changes every other day. His neighbor is a good foot and some change away from him. All of his finns were ripped and torn, and they looked somewhat knotted at the ends of them. I've had him about a year now.
Thank you, I really liked him. He would come to the edge of the bowl when I would walk in the room and would follow me if I walked to the other side. I'll miss him.

Never know what to say, but I'm sorry...

 

[Piperbella25]

Thank yall for caring for Octavian's death. I guess his just was a freak accident. I'll just have to keep a good watch on my other two.

 

[newfishy]

just to ask, you dont have any candles or air freshners near the tank did you?

 

[Piperbella25]

No, my bettas sit on a desk by themselves

 

[FBTgirl2]

I am sorry for your loss

 

[Piperbella25]

I am sorry for your loss

Thank you