I have a male betta in a 10-gallon tank with 6 neon tetras. They've been in the tank together for about 3 weeks now. Water is changed 50% weekly, with last water change 2 days ago (Friday). He's still swimming and eating normally, but his fins are...well, for lack of a better term, frayed. Not like nipped at the ends or fin rot, but they're starting to look like fringe from his body all the way out. What is going on here? Do we need to get him a small tank all his own? Are the tetras ganging up on him while we're not looking? Is he stressed out? HELP!
2007-02-04 14:52:47 · 8 answers · asked by ckmclements 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
The splitting you are seeing is possibly from fin nipping but most likely not. Frayed fins are a very good discription of what happens when a betta is exposed to too much water current or has to swim a lot, such as competing for food with the faster swimming neons. A small tank or large bowl of his own would solve either of those problems. If the water currents are fairly slow and the neons are not nipping (you would be able to catch them if they are) feeding from several places in the tank would probably help. Bettas can do just fine in a 10 gallon with other fish, you just have a few minor special considerations for them due to the long finnage.
Best of luck!
2007-02-04 15:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If theres no sign of the tetras ganging (and i'm pretty sure neons aren't known to be nippers) its probably not that. Betta fins are very fragile, so if theres anything to snag them on, such as a decoration or plastic plant with sharp edges, that could be causing it. To promote fin regrowth I recommend melafix (NOT bettafix, it's just a watered down version of melafix) and follow the instructions. You should see fin regrowth (it will start off transparent in the area, but will color in later) just keep an eye out for fin rot and any signs of your fish being bullied. If his fins grow in a different color (most likely a red) don't be surprised, it happens.
2007-02-05 01:10:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frayed fins is often the result of stress, or fin nippers. My females get that way if they have been fighting a lot. (Generally this requires time in the box.)
2007-02-05 00:27:55 · answer #3 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Betta fish from experience do not do well in large tanks, it's possible the tetras are beating him up , You should put him in a betta bowl .
2007-02-04 22:56:15 · answer #4 · answered by LS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bettas are not supposed to be in the tank with other fish, they are mean and they like to fight, their nickname actually happens to be "Chineese Fighting Fish" I also know that tetras spread a disease called neon tetra disease which is contagious and will spread to the other fish in the aquarium, which may be affecting the health of the beta, the beta might also be trying to fight the tetras and they are ganging up on him.
2007-02-04 22:58:51 · answer #5 · answered by Sarah E 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My bettas fins started fraying when I added one of those plastic plants in the aquarium. If you have anything in the aquarium that he can rub up against that is rough it will fray his fins. It doesn't hurt him but it does make him look ugly.
2007-02-04 22:56:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tetra's can be considered "nippers" and can pick on betta's. I'd suggest putting him in his own tank to avoid it.
2007-02-04 22:55:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
buy a breeders trap and put him in it that way you can still veiw him and hell be safe from nippers! good luck (^.^)v
2007-02-04 23:48:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋