I had a male and female betta together for weeks. They were getting along so well that I was actually surprised. I checked on them 2 or 3 times a day. Last night I noticed that she has just beat the crap out of him. His tail is almost gone and so is his top fin. He was a beautiful Crown Tail. I separated them immediately. Now, will his beautiful tail and fins grow back? It doesn't seem to bother him. He is happily swimming around and eats without a problem, but he looks awful. Please help!!
2007-01-17 13:17:22 · 6 answers · asked by Sandra G 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Yes, the fins will grow back. When mating, torns fins are the norm - but usually he beats up on her! It's possible he wasn't ready to mate and she was. Did he build a bubble nest? If so, look to see if there were any eggs laid. These will look like small opaque white balls (smaller then the bubbles) tucked up in the bottom layer of the bubbles. Also, is there gravel in the tank? If you want the bettas to breed, you will have to take it out. The female will lay they eggs higher up in the water (he actually bends around her and "squeezes" till some come out) and they fall down to the bottom. He needs to be able to find them and he will pick them up and put them in the nest. After mating, you will need to take her out of the tank. Leave the male in - he will care for the eggs and fry for a while after they've hatched. The hardest part is feeding the fry, which you need to do within a few days after the eggs hatch (after the eggs sac is absorbed). I've bred bettas twice, but only ever had 3 fry survive.
2007-01-17 13:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, his fins will grow back. Get some "MelaFix" and dose his water according to the directions on the bottle. It is a natural extract that aids in the regrowth of damaged tissue. I have used it and it works well.
There are some strains of bettas where both the male and female have short fins. Imbellis, pugnax and bellica are three of them. The bellica is the one that looks the most like a regular female. Both the imbellis and pugnax have colors that approach the standard male's coloration. Occasionally one will get mixed into the females by mistake and be sold as a female. This may have happened to you.
Another possibility is that it actually is a female but is an overly agressive one. If the container you kept them in is small, less than 5 gallons, she could very well have killed him before you caught the problem.
The imbellis males usually have black edged dorsal and tail fins.
2007-01-17 13:42:16 · answer #2 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I not sure if I read this wrong because I know that fins that have been nip or rip off will not grow back.
A tear might might heal, that means if the fins between the rays ( rays of the fin) get tear, they'll join back.
But I assume "His tail is almost gone and so is his top fin" means that it has been rip off and the rays are broken, that would not grow back. If the male is young, the tail might continue to grow out but the part that have been rip off will always be as it is now.
Sorry to be the one to break this to you.
2007-01-17 14:17:48 · answer #3 · answered by dragonfly_sg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get him some bettafix or use melafix at 1/3 strength. just a couple drops in a gallon bowl will work. its like bactine for fish and will help him heal.
you will see little bits of fin grow in clear -- that is him growing new fins.
2007-01-17 14:49:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES it will yea!!well you know the female could have been a young unmature male or some males will never grow long tails ...i suggest stress coat it helps with the slime coating and electrolytes and they regrow and heal and stay healtier with it...
2007-01-17 13:24:59 · answer #5 · answered by Bekah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-01-18 03:39:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋