Does this sound like fin rot?

[Booboo puppy]

George seems quite content and is very active in his 6 gallon tank. Nitrites, Nitrates are fine, although I haven't checked for ammonia. In the last day or two, his tail has started to look like a crowntail--but he's a PetSmart veil tail. The tips are spiky. Could that be fin rot or is he just going for a new summer look?

 

[riogal_11]

It depends, are the colors at the end of his fins different now? black or brown colored? if not then it may not be fin rot. What kind of plants do you have in there? plastic/silk/real? He could be messing up his fins on sharp plants, or he could be dragging his tail on the bottom? What kind of subtrate do you have? If you'd post pics it would be great. No matter what it is, I'd do a waterchange and add some salt.

 

[Booboo puppy]

Thanks. No change in color. Silk plant. Nothing on the bottom of the tank (I bought polished river rocks but then read here that they weren't meant for aquariums so I didn't put them in.) Have to figure out how to download the photo to the computer (I finally got the software loaded this week).

 

[riogal_11]

Maybe he's biting his own tail off? Is he near any other bettas?

 

[Booboo puppy]

My other betta is not visible to George. I'll get some salt and do a water change.

 

[SPLiSH]

If there's no discolouration it probably isn't fin rot. To me it sounds like one of two things:

A- Biting his own tail. Has he got any other decorations in his tank other than the plant? If not he *may* be bored and has turned to tail-chasing for erm, fun.

B- Natural ageing. Sometimes bettas fins thin and wear as they age, just like people's hair thins. It happens gradually so maybe you only just noticed it. But if it's really extreme it might be fin-nipping.