It actually from this picture looks almost as if he's nipping at his fins. Bettas with heavy fins will do that so it doesn't weigh them down. If he does it a lot it could turn to fin rot. So the aquarium salts should help a lot. I can't tell from the pictures but I would highly suggest if you don't have a lot of coverage or hiding spots such as plants and caves, your betta can become stressed and also cause the biting behavior. Bettas love coverage!
He has a plant that fills the whole middle section and he loves hiding in it, he also has a little house that he loves swimming in and out of the holes it it and a big coral he hides behind and under.
Update: I've had no chance to go get aquarium salts and many of his scales are turning a darker color and one of his eyes are protruding and is cloudy. He's been down at the bottom of his tank for the most part, it takes a bit to get him to come up to the surface to eat.
He's in a 10 gal tank with 3 main decorations. He has a coral, his leaf to sleep on, a big plastic green plant (which is super soft and wont hurt him), and a ceramic house that he loves. He also has a filter running at all times.
I'm just very confused on what is going on with him.
I know your last post was several days ago now, but wanted to check in on this.
I haven't had a betta in a little while now, but used to do lots of reading on them -
Do you know your water parameters? (Ammonia, Nitrates... etc)
The bulging eyes sounds like popeye.
From what I understand, frequent water changes and clean water can clear up popeye unless it becomes too advanced then you might need the Aquarium Salt or a medication.
(And for what it's worth - though it doesn't seem like it's the whole of the issue - i would have said that was tearing on his tail, not biting - since the rips look to be straight and not u-shaped. Either way, the tears must have become infected.)
Have you tested the coral with panty hose? If the coral snags on the panty hose at all, that means it is not safe for your Bettas tank. Your Bettas fins are super delicate. As stated above I still think you should really pick up some aquarium salts and medicate your fishy. Also water changes are very important right now. also If you can, pick up API master water kit it's very important to make sure all your water parameters are in order! It will help immensely with getting your betta in ship shape!
Honestly at this point it looks like he is starting to get popeye is his left eye. It's basically fluid that is stuck behind his eye. You can start him on API Bettafix it's basically melafix but for Bettas. You can't put melafix with a betta because of their larynx so they created bettafix specifically for them it's an antibacterial remedy that promotes rapid re-growth of damaged fins and skin. Use it to treat ulcers, mouth fungus, fin and tail rot and when you see signs of bacterial and fungal diseases like red ulcers, slimy patches or cottony growths. It can also be used to help heal wounds and tissue damaged by handling, netting or fighting. It's like $3 or $4 at your local pet stores.
I agree with Devyn on this one.
The medication and frequent water changes are going to help him a lot.
And I suspect those decorations are causing the tearing on the fins. If possible, try replacing the plastic plants with silk plants, and the coral with... something smooth.
I had a pink plastic plant in my first betta tank that i was convinced couldn't be an issue; it was bendable and soft to my touch - but definitely tore my betta's fins. Made the switch and that fixed the tears.
Okay, I know you guys are trying to help but it is NOT his decorations he's fins were like this before he had any of theses decorations his fins grew like this. This is NOT because of how his tank is. He's not nipping his fins they aren't getting ripped it grew like this. I'm done using this app because I'm fed up with this. I don't have the money to fix him and I'm tired of having two tanks so I'm putting both bettas together and if one dies so be it.
Well if it is not any of his decorations then you are not giving him enough water changes, no need to get upset. We are trying to give you options. No one can tell what is wrong with a betta for sure. Animals can not talk. So we have to take the time and measures to figure out what is wrong and if it's not one thing we cancel that out and try something else. Please do not put both Bettas in a tank together it will stress both Bettas and both might end up dying. Please just bring them to your local pet store and surrender your fish. Do not kill them.
Obviously money is not an issue here considering the medicine I have provided you to buy is $4...
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