Can substrate damage a betta's fins?

[ral]

I have one betta (the halfmoon) in a tank with no substrate.... well since I bought for his fins, am being extra careful. Tanks look better with substrate though. Is it best to go with substrate or without it?

 

[Seahorse]

Mine have always had some. I think you risk a slight chance of something happening with a fin, but mine have always been okay.

I like sand a lot and hope to get some eventually. I keep my 2.5 gallon empty though-- it is just easier to tell when it needs to be cleaned.

 

[fourplayfishy]

i use gravel for the bottoms... i have a comb who i also bought because his fins were pretty and i have gravel with him. i find if you get like a natural stone or the ones that are ment to not have dust come off of them they are really soft for their fins

 

[ral]

I guess he will be happier in a more natural environment. Worth the risk to the fin. Will just use very fine sand I guess.

 

[tekknocolor]

The main thing that damages fins would be plastic plants... I would steer clear of plastic and get silk

 

[ral]

Thanks for the tip on the plants. Actually I put a thick live plant in there and he seems to have suffered some damage to his Caudal Fin from embedding himself in there (he sticks himself in the plant to the point the he basically gets stuck sometimes). He loves the plant though so I gotta find him another one (all my Betta's love their plants).