Betta chasing and damaging his own tail

[Elaine T]

OK. Got a problem I've never seen before. My mentally retarded betta
is swimming in circles, chasing and damaging his own tail!

The tail problems started when I used a mirror to give him another fish
to flare at for a half hour or so. I realized the next morning that he
had damaged his tail fighting the fish in the mirror. I figured OK, no
big deal - it will grow back. I've been changing water to keep it super
clean and his tail was coming back nicely with no signs of finrot.

Then today I noticed it was tattered again. He looks like a crowntail
but he's not. I watched the fish for a while and realized that he is
swimming in tight circles trying to nip at his own tail. I'm also maybe
seeing signs of finrot (off to change more water!) from the additional
damage.

What the heck do I do about a behaviorally challenged betta? Am I
doomed to a short-tailed betta? He's alone in a heated, filtered 2
gallon hex. Would some sort of tankmate help?

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[dragon]

I remember reading somewhere that hex tanks drive fish like bettas nuts
because of all the reflections they see in the angled glass. I'm
sorry, but I can't remember where I read it, but perhaps that is part
or all of the problem.

dragon

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:
> OK. Got a problem I've never seen before. My mentally retarded betta
> is swimming in circles, chasing and damaging his own tail!
>
> The tail problems started when I used a mirror to give him another fish
> to flare at for a half hour or so. I realized the next morning that he
> had damaged his tail fighting the fish in the mirror. I figured OK, no
> big deal - it will grow back. I've been changing water to keep it super
> clean and his tail was coming back nicely with no signs of finrot.
>
> Then today I noticed it was tattered again. He looks like a crowntail
> but he's not. I watched the fish for a while and realized that he is
> swimming in tight circles trying to nip at his own tail. I'm also maybe
> seeing signs of finrot (off to change more water!) from the additional
> damage.
>
> What the heck do I do about a behaviorally challenged betta? Am I
> doomed to a short-tailed betta? He's alone in a heated, filtered 2
> gallon hex. Would some sort of tankmate help?
>

Sounds like you need to wean him off the mirror. I'm wondering whether a
24 hour blackout would help him with his newly acquired narcissistic
personality disorder? At least some sort of distraction needed.

Nikki

ps. LOL!

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> OK. Got a problem I've never seen before. My mentally retarded betta
>> is swimming in circles, chasing and damaging his own tail!
>>
>> The tail problems started when I used a mirror to give him another
>> fish to flare at for a half hour or so. I realized the next morning
>> that he had damaged his tail fighting the fish in the mirror. I
>> figured OK, no big deal - it will grow back. I've been changing water
>> to keep it super clean and his tail was coming back nicely with no
>> signs of finrot.
>>
>> Then today I noticed it was tattered again. He looks like a crowntail
>> but he's not. I watched the fish for a while and realized that he is
>> swimming in tight circles trying to nip at his own tail. I'm also
>> maybe seeing signs of finrot (off to change more water!) from the
>> additional damage.
>>
>> What the heck do I do about a behaviorally challenged betta? Am I
>> doomed to a short-tailed betta? He's alone in a heated, filtered 2
>> gallon hex. Would some sort of tankmate help?
>>
>
> Sounds like you need to wean him off the mirror. I'm wondering whether a
> 24 hour blackout would help him with his newly acquired narcissistic
> personality disorder? At least some sort of distraction needed.
>
> Nikki
>
> ps. LOL!
>
*grin* Yeah - this is a new one on me. Imagine my surprise when I saw
him swimming in tight circles like a dog chasing its tail! A blackout
sure can't hurt; at least it will keep him off of his tail for a day to
let it start healing again. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Vicki PS]

Stress and boredom may be contributing factors. You may be right that he's
one betta who doesn't like having a 'flare buddy'. You could try
rearranging his tank decor a bit to distract him, and make sure he's got a
live or silk plant if he doesn't already have one.

Some bettas just seem to acquire tail-biting as a bad habit, and it can be
almost impossible to break. I've got a green delta who's a confirmed
tail-biter.

Vicki PS

[Elaine T]

Vicki PS wrote:
> Stress and boredom may be contributing factors. You may be right that he's
> one betta who doesn't like having a 'flare buddy'. You could try
> rearranging his tank decor a bit to distract him, and make sure he's got a
> live or silk plant if he doesn't already have one.
>
> Some bettas just seem to acquire tail-biting as a bad habit, and it can be
> almost impossible to break. I've got a green delta who's a confirmed
> tail-biter.
>
> Vicki PS
>
>
Good to know I'm not crazy! Squishy's only a LFS veil tail, but I still
think he's gorgeous when his fins are healthy. (Named after BF's
favorite line in Finding Nemo)

Squishy's got plenty of plants to swim in and around. The tank is in
indirect sunlight and I've got Mayaca and Rotala indica growing like
weeds and filling at least a third of the tank. Just added a banana
plant too, in the hopes of getting some surface leaves for him to nest
under. Squishy likes to swim through the bunches of plants at the
bottom or wedge himself between the plants and tank wall.

I think if the tank blackout and a couple weeks of no mirror doesn't
calm him down, I'll add a couple of white clouds so he has some company.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Betta chasing and damaging his own tail
>From: Elaine T
>Date: 2/6/2005 5:11 A.M. Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Vicki PS wrote:
>> Stress and boredom may be contributing factors. You may be right that he's
>> one betta who doesn't like having a 'flare buddy'. You could try
>> rearranging his tank decor a bit to distract him, and make sure he's got a
>> live or silk plant if he doesn't already have one.
>>
>> Some bettas just seem to acquire tail-biting as a bad habit, and it can be
>> almost impossible to break. I've got a green delta who's a confirmed
>> tail-biter.
>>
>> Vicki PS
>>
>>
>Good to know I'm not crazy! Squishy's only a LFS veil tail, but I still
>think he's gorgeous when his fins are healthy. (Named after BF's
>favorite line in Finding Nemo)
>
>Squishy's got plenty of plants to swim in and around. The tank is in
>indirect sunlight and I've got Mayaca and Rotala indica growing like
>weeds and filling at least a third of the tank. Just added a banana
>plant too, in the hopes of getting some surface leaves for him to nest
>under. Squishy likes to swim through the bunches of plants at the
>bottom or wedge himself between the plants and tank wall.
>
>I think if the tank blackout and a couple weeks of no mirror doesn't
>calm him down, I'll add a couple of white clouds so he has some company.
>

Hi Elaine.
Some Bettas will develope the nasty habit of tailbiting.
I used to have a lovely Crowntail that did this.
It's seems to be that once they start it, they don't quit. They may take time
to let their tail start to grow out...the keeper thinks oh yea..it's
growing.....then baam. Next day he's all chwed up again.
I would consider getting some small tank mates (not small enough to become a
meal), but something to curb his bordome may help.

[NetMax]

"TYNK 7" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: Betta chasing and damaging his own tail
>>From: Elaine T
>>Date: 2/6/2005 5:11 A.M. Central Standard Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>Vicki PS wrote:
>>> Stress and boredom may be contributing factors. You may be right
>>> that he's
>>> one betta who doesn't like having a 'flare buddy'. You could try
>>> rearranging his tank decor a bit to distract him, and make sure he's
>>> got a
>>> live or silk plant if he doesn't already have one.
>>>
>>> Some bettas just seem to acquire tail-biting as a bad habit, and it
>>> can be
>>> almost impossible to break. I've got a green delta who's a confirmed
>>> tail-biter.
>>>
>>> Vicki PS
>>>
>>>
>>Good to know I'm not crazy! Squishy's only a LFS veil tail, but I
>>still
>>think he's gorgeous when his fins are healthy. (Named after BF's
>>favorite line in Finding Nemo)
>>
>>Squishy's got plenty of plants to swim in and around. The tank is in
>>indirect sunlight and I've got Mayaca and Rotala indica growing like
>>weeds and filling at least a third of the tank. Just added a banana
>>plant too, in the hopes of getting some surface leaves for him to nest
>>under. Squishy likes to swim through the bunches of plants at the
>>bottom or wedge himself between the plants and tank wall.
>>
>>I think if the tank blackout and a couple weeks of no mirror doesn't
>>calm him down, I'll add a couple of white clouds so he has some
>>company.
>>
>
> Hi Elaine.
> Some Bettas will develope the nasty habit of tailbiting.
> I used to have a lovely Crowntail that did this.
> It's seems to be that once they start it, they don't quit. They may
> take time
> to let their tail start to grow out...the keeper thinks oh yea..it's
> growing.....then baam. Next day he's all chwed up again.
> I would consider getting some small tank mates (not small enough to
> become a
> meal), but something to curb his bordome may help.

I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I'm much more confident now
after hearing it from TYNK 7. Harlequin rasboras make nice dither too,
and I've had them in cooler tanks without trouble.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >,
says...

I've got one that was so psycho I moved him to his own tank. Still
acted strange, but luckily no tailbiting. Then I put a cory in with
him. That cory is like John Wayne toilet paper. Took a day or two, but
now they're best buddies.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[Elaine T]

NetMax wrote:
> "TYNK 7" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>>Subject: Re: Betta chasing and damaging his own tail
>>>From: Elaine T
>>>Date: 2/6/2005 5:11 A.M. Central Standard Time
>>>Message-id: >
>>>
>>>Vicki PS wrote:
>>>
>>>>Stress and boredom may be contributing factors. You may be right
>>>>that he's
>>>>one betta who doesn't like having a 'flare buddy'. You could try
>>>>rearranging his tank decor a bit to distract him, and make sure he's
>>>>got a
>>>>live or silk plant if he doesn't already have one.
>>>>
>>>>Some bettas just seem to acquire tail-biting as a bad habit, and it
>>>>can be
>>>>almost impossible to break. I've got a green delta who's a confirmed
>>>>tail-biter.
>>>>
>>>>Vicki PS
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Good to know I'm not crazy! Squishy's only a LFS veil tail, but I
>>>still
>>>think he's gorgeous when his fins are healthy. (Named after BF's
>>>favorite line in Finding Nemo)
>>>
>>>Squishy's got plenty of plants to swim in and around. The tank is in
>>>indirect sunlight and I've got Mayaca and Rotala indica growing like
>>>weeds and filling at least a third of the tank. Just added a banana
>>>plant too, in the hopes of getting some surface leaves for him to nest
>>>under. Squishy likes to swim through the bunches of plants at the
>>>bottom or wedge himself between the plants and tank wall.
>>>
>>>I think if the tank blackout and a couple weeks of no mirror doesn't
>>>calm him down, I'll add a couple of white clouds so he has some
>>>company.
>>>
>>
>>Hi Elaine.
>>Some Bettas will develope the nasty habit of tailbiting.
>>I used to have a lovely Crowntail that did this.
>>It's seems to be that once they start it, they don't quit. They may
>>take time
>>to let their tail start to grow out...the keeper thinks oh yea..it's
>>growing.....then baam. Next day he's all chwed up again.
>>I would consider getting some small tank mates (not small enough to
>>become a
>>meal), but something to curb his bordome may help.
>
>
> I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I'm much more confident now
> after hearing it from TYNK 7. Harlequin rasboras make nice dither too,
> and I've had them in cooler tanks without trouble.

He's actually at 78 degrees since everything I've read from breeders
says that bettas like it warm. I'm glad you said that - white clouds
are a bad plan unless I drop temps a bit. I'd get my favorite
cardinals, but I had a suddenly vicious pack of cardinals attack a
betta's fins once in a community tank so I'm wary of mixing cardinals
and bettas now. The cardinals showed me that even though they're very
distant pirhana cousins, the blood is there. ;-)

I wonder if LFS still has any of the T. espei rasboras... If so, that's
the pick. They were absolutely gorgeous. Otherwise, I'll probably go
with harlequins as I like them too.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Elaine T]

Elaine T wrote:

>
> I wonder if LFS still has any of the T. espei rasboras... If so, that's
> the pick. They were absolutely gorgeous. Otherwise, I'll probably go
> with harlequins as I like them too.
>
> Thanks to everyone for the advice!
>

Well, LFS still had a handful of T. espei rasboras so I got those. I
had to cover the tank to darken it and let the rasboras acclimate for a
few hours - lights out wasn't enough. Now Squishy is chasing them
hither and yon but he's got 3 targets and can't keep them straight.
They're faster and have plants to hide in. He is most definately
distracted.

This is a lot of fish for this tank, though. I'm gonna be changing
water like crazy. I have done a betta and 3 white clouds before in this
tank and it was stable for the betta's 2 year lifespan. Wish I could
put them all in a 10 gal, but my landlord would have a fit.

If things don't settle down or nitrates get too high, the betta's going
into the 5 gallon (once I'm sure it's ich-free) and he can fight it out
with the ram. Heh. Actually, that might work because the betta mostly
wants the top and the ram the bottom.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Lisa]

>Wish I could put them all in a 10 gal, but my landlord would have a
fit.

That's unusual. Why would a landlord object to a 10-gallon tank? I
know it can't be a weight issue with the floors (which I could
understand with some buildings). But a 10-gallon? It could just sit
on a dresser or something, right? Or is this a "No pets - absolutely!"
kind of thing?

Just curious!

- Lisa

[Elaine T]

Lisa wrote:
>>Wish I could put them all in a 10 gal, but my landlord would have a
>
> fit.
>
> That's unusual. Why would a landlord object to a 10-gallon tank? I
> know it can't be a weight issue with the floors (which I could
> understand with some buildings). But a 10-gallon? It could just sit
> on a dresser or something, right? Or is this a "No pets - absolutely!"
> kind of thing?
>
> Just curious!
>
> - Lisa
>
It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's afraid
they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10 gallons
in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I can watch and
enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal, but such is life.
I already had the tank from another betta.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Elaine T]

Psycho Squishy left his tail alone but nearly stressed his new lambchop
rasbora tankmates to death. He chased them nonstop with fins and gills
flared. I rescued them today since they had tail damage, were pale, and
were not eating and put them in the hopefully now ich-free 5 gallon with
the ram. Thank heavens, the ram took a look, made a token cichlid-style
lunge or two at them, and decided that they could be allowed in his tank.

I could try cory cats, since they're armored and generally less bothered
by displays, but I don't think it's a good plan. I knew I had room in
the 5 gal for the rasboras if things didn't work out, but I have nowhere
to put rescued cory cats now.

Guess I'm just stuck with a short-tailed psycho betta for the time being.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Elaine T]

Elaine T wrote:
> Lisa wrote:
>
>>> Wish I could put them all in a 10 gal, but my landlord would have a
>>
>>
>> fit.
>>
>> That's unusual. Why would a landlord object to a 10-gallon tank? I
>> know it can't be a weight issue with the floors (which I could
>> understand with some buildings). But a 10-gallon? It could just sit
>> on a dresser or something, right? Or is this a "No pets - absolutely!"
>> kind of thing?
>>
>> Just curious!
>>
>> - Lisa
>>
> It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's afraid
> they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10 gallons
> in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I can watch and
> enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal, but such is life.
> I already had the tank from another betta.
>
Oh yeah - and I'm in Southern California, earthquake country. Fishtanks
don't often tip over during quakes, but quite a lot of water can get
sloshed out. Seems like it would also be possible for the movement to
damage a seam on a glass tank and then you could have a big leak.

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:

> It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's afraid
> they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10 gallons
> in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I can watch and
> enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal, but such is life.
> I already had the tank from another betta.
>

The number of times I've been distracted during water changes and
flooded out the dining room. The laying down of tiles with swimming pool
grade grout has paid off many times!

How about converting a 5 gallon plastic water barrel into a stealth fish
tank and hope the landlord doesn't notice its occupants?

Nikki

[Elaine T]

Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's afraid
>> they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10
>> gallons in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I can
>> watch and enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal, but
>> such is life. I already had the tank from another betta.
>>
>
> The number of times I've been distracted during water changes and
> flooded out the dining room. The laying down of tiles with swimming pool
> grade grout has paid off many times!
>
> How about converting a 5 gallon plastic water barrel into a stealth fish
> tank and hope the landlord doesn't notice its occupants?
>
> Nikki
>
ROFLMAO! 5 gallon water barrel. I love it! Heh. I could use one of
the water containers with a spigot and just change water from the
bottom. "Airstone? Why that's to make the water taste fresher."

--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:
> Nikki Casali wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Elaine T wrote:
>>
>>> It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's afraid
>>> they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10
>>> gallons in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I
>>> can watch and enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal,
>>> but such is life. I already had the tank from another betta.
>>>
>>
>> The number of times I've been distracted during water changes and
>> flooded out the dining room. The laying down of tiles with swimming
>> pool grade grout has paid off many times!
>>
>> How about converting a 5 gallon plastic water barrel into a stealth
>> fish tank and hope the landlord doesn't notice its occupants?
>>
>> Nikki
>>
> ROFLMAO! 5 gallon water barrel. I love it! Heh. I could use one of
> the water containers with a spigot and just change water from the
> bottom. "Airstone? Why that's to make the water taste fresher."
>

And presumably the Betta in there comes as standard to impart a certain
je ne sais quois.

Nikki

[Fishy Fish]

Elaine T wrote:
> Nikki Casali wrote:
> >
> >
> > Elaine T wrote:
> >
> >> It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's
afraid
> >> they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10
> >> gallons in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I
can
> >> watch and enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal,
but
> >> such is life. I already had the tank from another betta.
> >>
> >
> > The number of times I've been distracted during water changes and
> > flooded out the dining room. The laying down of tiles with swimming
pool
> > grade grout has paid off many times!
> >
> > How about converting a 5 gallon plastic water barrel into a stealth
fish
> > tank and hope the landlord doesn't notice its occupants?
> >
> > Nikki
> >
> ROFLMAO! 5 gallon water barrel. I love it! Heh. I could use one
of
> the water containers with a spigot and just change water from the
> bottom. "Airstone? Why that's to make the water taste fresher."
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

That's a great Idea...A fish tank with a spigot..Makes water changes
easy. Put em on all tanks

[Lisa]

Oh, my - I am in SO CA, too (Central Coast, actually), and I never
considered earthquake damage. (Newbie Mid-Westerner - duh) Our
Parkfield quake this fall happened before I got my 50-gallon.

We DID anchor the stand to the wall studs so that it wouldn't tip in
case of a quake, but I never thought about water sloshing (seems most
likely) or seams breaking. Definitely something new to think about.
:-)

- Lisa


Elaine T wrote:
> >>
> > It's a no pets, and no fishtanks over the carpet thing. She's
afraid
> > they'll break and flood. I got permission for one tank up to 10
gallons
> > in the kitchen, but the betta is in the livingroom where I can
watch and
> > enjoy him. I'm breaking my lease even with the 2 gal, but such is
life.
> > I already had the tank from another betta.
> >
> Oh yeah - and I'm in Southern California, earthquake country.
Fishtanks
> don't often tip over during quakes, but quite a lot of water can
get
> sloshed out. Seems like it would also be possible for the movement
to
> damage a seam on a glass tank and then you could have a big leak.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><

[winddancir]

Oh, my - I am in SO CA, too (Central Coast, actually), and I never considered earthquake damage.
- Lisa
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__[/i][/color]
snipped

That's something I never considered either. O_o
And I should know that as a lifetime Californian! Oh, well. I guess because Sacramento isn't exactly close to a fault line.

But I completely understand water on the floor when cleaning a tank. Even with a siphon hose, I still get water on the floor! 3 yr old child underfoot makes it harder to control where the water goes, especially when she thinks it's funny to spray mommy with guppie water!

Never had a betta chasing its tail, but I did have a betta jump out of its bowl and flip-flop diagonally across a 10ft room out the door.

[Nikki Casali]

winddancir wrote:
> Never had a betta chasing its tail, but I did have a betta jump out of
> its bowl and flip-flop diagonally across a 10ft room out the door.

Did he survive to swim another length of his bowl? I've gots to know! LOL.

Nikki

[Larry Blanchard]

In article >,
says...
> But I completely understand water on the floor when cleaning a tank.
> Even with a siphon hose, I still get water on the floor!
>
I put down one of those clear plastic painter's tarps before I change
water in the living room tank.

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[winddancir]

winddancir wrote:
Never had a betta chasing its tail, but I did have a betta jump out of
its bowl and flip-flop diagonally across a 10ft room out the door.

Did he survive to swim another length of his bowl? I've gots to know! LOL.

Nikki

He might have survived.....
If the cat hadn't found him. Every time the cat would sniff, the fish wiggled and smacked him on the nose a couple times. By the time I stopped laughing, Samari was in no shape to survive. He went belly up in his bowl withing hours. He probably took 1/2 hr to flop across my room, and by the time I found him, it was really too late. :(
Betta Bowl: $2
Betta: $2-$5
Betta Food: $3
Look on the cat's face when the Betta hit him in the nose: priceless!