How In The World.....

[BettaBoysGirl]

I had my betta in a quarentine tank for 3 days that had sqaure gems in the bottom insted of gravel, i couldn't find him anywhere until i pulled the fake plant out, somehow he wedged himself inbetween the rocks and the plants plastic anchor! he is now in a new tank with gravel but had a mark on his side, treated with stress coat and he's fine now. I would try melafix for his tail, but as for how he is like this i wouldn't know, just saying what happend to mine could have been what happend to him.

Good News! I took a very close look at him... you can see some clear regrowth. Not much but just enough to tell its there, on his dorsal where the major damage is! Its suppose to look clear right? There were a few ragged spots, but there clear tissue patching it back up. I dont think its any more fin loss, i think its actually healing, as the edges, with this new growth doesnt look very ragged anymore, just the color looks ragged in his fin. I hope im right! Still going to keep up the water changes.

 

[loraxchick]

thats great news about the regrowth! id stop even with the salt and just keep changing his water.
be careful about assuming finrot is NOT a culprit because there is no black edging. usually that is ammonia burns (or other chemical injury, can sometimes be finrot), but depending on the cause of the finrot (even which type of bacteria is affecting the fins) may or may not be accompanied by black edging. just an FYI for everyone.
glad hes on the mend.
cheers
__ and sorry to folks who took my last post the wrong way-wasnt trying to start any arguments and i 100% agree that every possible culprit should be examined. i was merely trying to point out that from what ive seen lately, with most posts about chunks of tail missing etc., people immediately gravitate to tailbiting. it is actually quite low on the culprit list as is a fairly uncommon phenomenon with bettas. unless you actually catch them in the act, it should be last in the list, right along side with poor water quality if you are testing and doing good maintenance. usually its tankmates or filters/decor. But this particular fish's damaged dorsal rays have a classic fragile look of finrot to me. but the waterchanges seem to be doing their job (as they do 90% of the time) so whatever the culprit, glad hes healing for you!
so sorry if the post came off wrong.

*edit to add

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

thats great news about the regrowth! id stop even with the salt and just keep changing his water.
be careful about assuming finrot is NOT a culprit because there is no black edging. usually that is ammonia burns (or other chemical injury, can sometimes be finrot), but depending on the cause of the finrot (even which type of bacteria is affecting the fins) may or may not be accompanied by black edging. just an FYI for everyone.
glad hes on the mend.
cheers
__ and sorry to folks who took my last post the wrong way-wasnt trying to start any arguments and i 100% agree that every possible culprit should be examined. i was merely trying to point out that from what ive seen lately, with most posts about chunks of tail missing etc., people immediately gravitate to tailbiting. it is actually quite low on the culprit list as is a fairly uncommon phenomenon with bettas. unless you actually catch them in the act, it should be last in the list, right along side with poor water quality if you are testing and doing good maintenance. usually its tankmates or filters/decor. But this particular fish's damaged dorsal rays have a classic fragile look of finrot to me. but the waterchanges seem to be doing their job (as they do 90% of the time) so whatever the culprit, glad hes healing for you!
so sorry if the post came off wrong.

*edit to add

No problem at all. I'm going to keep up the salt. In the 6 weeks I've had him I always have added salt when I did water changes. And the appropriate ammount with no ill affects. I don't think its an ammonia burn or chemical. I test his water every three days, and do a 50% water change weekly as the tank isn't cycles. I do the same for my other bettas. (Well now every day for a week for possible fin rot.) Just because there's so much confusion on if it is or isn't, I'm gonna chalk it up to the unknown. I did quit using melafix. Super scary! But I do appreciate all the help and advice offered here as I work with this issue.

 

[Honeythorn]

You have absolutely no need for salt if the fish is healthy. Adding it after every water change was unessesary.

Since he has torn fins the addition of salt would now help. But once healed there is no need to keep adding it.

Melafix is completely fine when used as a half or quarter dose. It's excellent for healing torn fins ater disease has been cured or if the fin is simply ripped.

Above all, extra water changes ( an extra 25% a week for example ) will keep the water in top condition and help keep bacteria and illness away while the fins heal.

Many betta keepers ( myself included ) add IAL to the tank. Either as leaves themselves or the extract. It has natural antibacterial properties and is a useful addition to the tank as a general conditioner.