Tail-less Betta

[dixaisy930]

I, as always, have to look through the bettas at Wal-Mart, and usually my particular Wal-Mart takes very good care of their fish. Two males were there, and so my horror, one had absolutely no tail...not even a stub. I'm assuming it's a severe case of tail rot? Can it progress on to the body? Anyone, I insisted the guy give him to me for 1/2 price and he did. Right now he's just in his cup. I changed his water, and will be medicating with Collodial Silver soon (miracle worker in my opinion). I have a 1 gallon bowl he can go in, but I think the water changes might be easier for a few days if he just stays in there. If I change the water everyday, he's probably be ok? Or should he have the room? Poor guy...acts perfectly normal though...You won't think anything was wrong with him.

 

[dixaisy930]

These pics haven't been doctored or altered, and he's not at some funky angle...he really has no tail...at all.

 

[Kiarra]

Poor baby. He looks just like Lucky (BettaMomma's tailless boy) did. But Lucky now has a tail, so there's much hope for this one.

The 1 gallon should be fine for him. Just keep his water extremely clean like you're planning. It's probably not bothering him much to be tailless (didn't seem to bother Lucky), but the clean water should help prevent any infection and speed healing. Good idea with the colloidal...I was going to recommend that. I'd also recommend getting some Indian Almond Leaves or Blackwater Extract, as they should help, too.

Good luck with him, the poor boy. At least he has a home with someone who understands and is willing to treat him.

 

[Kingsnorky]

Cool looks like your gonna have a tail-less wonder

 

[OrkyBetta]

Talk to BettaMomma. She could definitely help you out. Wow, what Wal-mart did he come from? I'm seeing a pattern, wasn't Lucky from a walmart too? And your boy looks like he had his tail scissored off too...

 

[riogal_11]

Aww how awful. At least you say it doesn't seem to be bothering him. Goodluck, and keep us updated in his progress~

 

[Jezah]

Something is fishy here....no pun intended. This is becoming a disconcerting pattern in Wal-mart. Perhaps someone should send a picture of Lucky and Thsi new tail-less betta to Wal-Mart home offices. This has to be deliberate....

 

[Ember]

Poor guy!
He's in good hands now though. He'll get that tail back in time. His other fins look pretty good which made me think maybe he was nipped by another fish but he was a cup betta. I've seen bettas in community tanks a lot at Walmart.

I would recommend putting a tall plant in his bowl so he can rest on the leaves closer to the surface if he ever gets tired. My Doodle had a stump and seemed to get tired sometimes. He likes to rest on the leaves.

 

[daudy_dojo]

he looks like bettamommas betta.... wait who said that already... DARNIT!! Kiarra you beat me

 

[BettaMomma]

Please tell me what WalMart you got him from.

That's it. I am FURIOUS (big surprise, I am sure).
Once, I can understand - twice, I'm going to raise some hell.
And I don't even care if these stores are on the complete opposite ends of the world from each other - this should not EVER EVER happen.

Here's my thread from my lucky:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...16&hl=tail-less
You can see pictures, and how his tail grew back.
Just be prepared - while Lucky was busy growing his tail back, it was obviously painful for him at times... he'd be swimming along and suddenly he'd freak out like someone was pinching him. I kept him in a 1 gallon aquaview, changed out his water every 2 - 3 days and put plenty of stress coat and a teeny pinch of aquarium salt in every other water change or so.
Here was his tail to begin with:

and here's his tail a couple of weeks ago (a couple months after I got him):

There's hope for your little guy, and I'm GOING to get to the bottom of this. It makes me FURIOUS.

 

[dixaisy930]

UPDATE

The little guy is a real live wire...you'd never guess he doens't have a tail. He is always flairing at the neighbors. He gets water changes about every three to four days, and a good dose of colldial silver. He has grown about a half inch back on his tail. A real trooper.

 

[GSD]

glad to hear he is ok

 

[Bettabelieveit]

Aww, he also look like my Joe, whom we got from walmart last week.

Good luck with him, if he's anything like mine, he's a fighter

 

[afireinside]

hey, my new betta i got is from petsmart, it looks fine, though do not go screamin at me: PETsMART would do that to a fish?! he was in a specail tank all to him self, and they lady had to go check if i could buy him. he has the first half of his dorsal fin completely ripped off. poor guy. oh well, i feel bad for ur guy too.