Betta missing a piece of tail

[Dan White]

Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of his
tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this likely
the cause?

thanks,
dwhite

[Mike]

This could be fin rot...Or maybe he bit his tail, never heard of this but
could be possible I guess?

Mike

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com
"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
> Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of his
> tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this likely
> the cause?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite
>
>

[NetMax]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
> Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of
> his
> tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
> likely
> the cause?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite


yup
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dan White]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of
> > his
> > tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
> > likely
> > the cause?
> >
> > thanks,
> > dwhite
>
>
> yup
> --

Thanks. Here is a pic, just to confirm. Lousy image, but you can see the
missing piece by comparing images 2 and 3.

http://tinyurl.com/dqpgy

dwhite

[Elaine T]

Dan White wrote:
> Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of his
> tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this likely
> the cause?
>
> thanks,
> dwhite
>
>
I had a tail-biter. I ended up putting him in a divided tank with a
flare buddy for distraction and he stopped.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[NetMax]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out
>> > of
>> > his
>> > tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
>> > likely
>> > the cause?
>> >
>> > thanks,
>> > dwhite
>>
>>
>> yup
>> --
>
> Thanks. Here is a pic, just to confirm. Lousy image, but you can see
> the
> missing piece by comparing images 2 and 3.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/dqpgy
>
> dwhite


yup, clean chop with separation between the rays. Either got caught in
something, or he just took a chunk out himself. Fin rot is progressive
and more evenly spread. Fin rot can be quite slow or very rapid though.
Looks like a bite to me.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Mike]

Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color on
the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a bite
or something to that nature.

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com
"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> > Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of
>>> > his
>>> > tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
>>> > likely
>>> > the cause?
>>> >
>>> > thanks,
>>> > dwhite
>>>
>>>
>>> yup
>>> --
>>
>> Thanks. Here is a pic, just to confirm. Lousy image, but you can see
>> the
>> missing piece by comparing images 2 and 3.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/dqpgy
>>
>> dwhite
>
>
> yup, clean chop with separation between the rays. Either got caught in
> something, or he just took a chunk out himself. Fin rot is progressive
> and more evenly spread. Fin rot can be quite slow or very rapid though.
> Looks like a bite to me.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color on
the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a bite
or something to that nature.

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com

[Mike]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
t...
> Dan White wrote:
>> Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out of
>> his
>> tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this likely
>> the cause?
>>
>> thanks,
>> dwhite
>>
>>
> I had a tail-biter. I ended up putting him in a divided tank with a flare
> buddy for distraction and he stopped.
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com


All my bettas are right next to each other setting on a shelf (so they have
some company) all six of them. Ive never had any that bit their own tail
though...

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com

[Dan White]

"Mike" > wrote in message
...
> Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color
on
> the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a
bite
> or something to that nature.
>

Thanks everybody. One followup question: Do bettas get lonely? He's in
this 5 gal tank alone all day. I was thinking of dividing the tank, but
that can be tricky to do properly with this Eclipse tank. I'm also hesitant
to introduce other fish as the temp swings between 80 and 84 or 85. Would
other fish species even help with "loneliness" if that is what it is. I've
still got to try a fluorescent light to drop the temperature, but this is
where things are at now.

dwhite

> --
> http://www.mikesfishsite.com
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "Dan White" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> >>> ...
> >>> > Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out
of
> >>> > his
> >>> > tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
> >>> > likely
> >>> > the cause?
> >>> >
> >>> > thanks,
> >>> > dwhite
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> yup
> >>> --
> >>
> >> Thanks. Here is a pic, just to confirm. Lousy image, but you can see
> >> the
> >> missing piece by comparing images 2 and 3.
> >>
> >> http://tinyurl.com/dqpgy
> >>
> >> dwhite
> >
> >
> > yup, clean chop with separation between the rays. Either got caught in
> > something, or he just took a chunk out himself. Fin rot is progressive
> > and more evenly spread. Fin rot can be quite slow or very rapid though.
> > Looks like a bite to me.
> > --
> > www.NetMax.tk
> >
>
> Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color
on
> the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a
bite
> or something to that nature.
>
> --
> http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>
>

[Mike]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mike" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color
> on
>> the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a
> bite
>> or something to that nature.
>>
>
> Thanks everybody. One followup question: Do bettas get lonely? He's in
> this 5 gal tank alone all day. I was thinking of dividing the tank, but
> that can be tricky to do properly with this Eclipse tank. I'm also
> hesitant
> to introduce other fish as the temp swings between 80 and 84 or 85. Would
> other fish species even help with "loneliness" if that is what it is.
> I've
> still got to try a fluorescent light to drop the temperature, but this is
> where things are at now.
>
> dwhite
>
>> --
>> http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > "Dan White" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> >> ...
>> >>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
>> >>> ...
>> >>> > Hi. My new betta, which is in a tank alone, is missing a chunk out
> of
>> >>> > his
>> >>> > tail fin. I wouldn't think he could bite his own fin, but is this
>> >>> > likely
>> >>> > the cause?
>> >>> >
>> >>> > thanks,
>> >>> > dwhite
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> yup
>> >>> --
>> >>
>> >> Thanks. Here is a pic, just to confirm. Lousy image, but you can see
>> >> the
>> >> missing piece by comparing images 2 and 3.
>> >>
>> >> http://tinyurl.com/dqpgy
>> >>
>> >> dwhite
>> >
>> >
>> > yup, clean chop with separation between the rays. Either got caught in
>> > something, or he just took a chunk out himself. Fin rot is progressive
>> > and more evenly spread. Fin rot can be quite slow or very rapid
>> > though.
>> > Looks like a bite to me.
>> > --
>> > www.NetMax.tk
>> >
>>
>> Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown color
> on
>> the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a
> bite
>> or something to that nature.
>>
>> --
>> http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>>
>>
>
>


Yes bettas will get lonely and depressed. Thats why I got all my bettas
close together, so they have a friend(if you wanna call it that). I would
say get maybe some neons or guppies and put in with him so he wont be so
lonely... Ive heard of putting a mirror by the tank, just so he thinks he
has a buddy, but I wouldnt recommend it. You could get another betta and put
him next to the other tank, or divide it like you said.

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com

[NetMax]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mike" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Ok now I see that it couldnt be finrot, it would be more of a brown
>> color
> on
>> the tips where its shreded if it was... So like Netmax said probably a
> bite
>> or something to that nature.
>>
>
> Thanks everybody. One followup question: Do bettas get lonely? He's
> in
> this 5 gal tank alone all day. I was thinking of dividing the tank,
> but
> that can be tricky to do properly with this Eclipse tank. I'm also
> hesitant
> to introduce other fish as the temp swings between 80 and 84 or 85.
> Would
> other fish species even help with "loneliness" if that is what it is.
> I've
> still got to try a fluorescent light to drop the temperature, but this
> is
> where things are at now.
>
> dwhite


Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank can
be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is quite
small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also like
some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is a few
ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dan White]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank can
> be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
> Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is quite
> small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also like
> some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is a few
> ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
> --

Thanks Netmax. You agree then, in principle, that it is good to have
tankmates?

dwhite

[NetMax]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank
>> can
>> be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
>> Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is
>> quite
>> small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also
>> like
>> some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is a
>> few
>> ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
>> --
>
> Thanks Netmax. You agree then, in principle, that it is good to have
> tankmates?
>
> dwhite


I agree that it can be worth trying, however I've had many fish who were
by their disposition, much happier alone, and the smaller the tank, the
less successful match-making can be, so.. ymmv ;~)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Mike]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Dan White" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>> Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank can
>>> be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
>>> Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is quite
>>> small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also
>>> like
>>> some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is a
>>> few
>>> ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
>>> --
>>
>> Thanks Netmax. You agree then, in principle, that it is good to have
>> tankmates?
>>
>> dwhite
>
>
> I agree that it can be worth trying, however I've had many fish who were
> by their disposition, much happier alone, and the smaller the tank, the
> less successful match-making can be, so.. ymmv ;~)
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
Ive kept bettas with neons and some other tetras and guppies in a 10 gallon.
But its been a while since Ive kept a betta in a nice tank, right now they
are all in bowls... Also it does depend on the bettas personality or as
netmax said the size of the tank, maybe 1 or 2 guppies or 1 or 2 neons might
be good?

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com

[NetMax]

"Mike" > wrote in message
...
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>>> .. .
>>>> Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank
>>>> can
>>>> be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
>>>> Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is
>>>> quite
>>>> small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also
>>>> like
>>>> some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is
>>>> a few
>>>> ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
>>>> --
>>>
>>> Thanks Netmax. You agree then, in principle, that it is good to have
>>> tankmates?
>>>
>>> dwhite
>>
>>
>> I agree that it can be worth trying, however I've had many fish who
>> were by their disposition, much happier alone, and the smaller the
>> tank, the less successful match-making can be, so.. ymmv ;~)
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>>
> Ive kept bettas with neons and some other tetras and guppies in a 10
> gallon. But its been a while since Ive kept a betta in a nice tank,
> right now they are all in bowls... Also it does depend on the bettas
> personality or as netmax said the size of the tank, maybe 1 or 2
> guppies or 1 or 2 neons might be good?
>
> --
> http://www.mikesfishsite.com


It's been my experience that keeping Bettas & brightly coloured fish with
long tails (Guppies) can be problematic (for the Guppies ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Mike]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> "Mike" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>> "Dan White" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>>>> .. .
>>>>> Sounds like a good idea, but tank mates for a Betta in a small tank
>>>>> can
>>>>> be tricky. I've often used White Clouds but your water is too warm.
>>>>> Other choices are small tetras (ie: Black Neons) but your tank is
>>>>> quite
>>>>> small. How about an Apple snail or a couple of shrimp? Bettas also
>>>>> like
>>>>> some surface cover (floating plants, like a silk lilypad). Thee is a
>>>>> few
>>>>> ways, including a neighbouring tank with another Betta.
>>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Thanks Netmax. You agree then, in principle, that it is good to have
>>>> tankmates?
>>>>
>>>> dwhite
>>>
>>>
>>> I agree that it can be worth trying, however I've had many fish who were
>>> by their disposition, much happier alone, and the smaller the tank, the
>>> less successful match-making can be, so.. ymmv ;~)
>>> --
>>> www.NetMax.tk
>>>
>> Ive kept bettas with neons and some other tetras and guppies in a 10
>> gallon. But its been a while since Ive kept a betta in a nice tank, right
>> now they are all in bowls... Also it does depend on the bettas
>> personality or as netmax said the size of the tank, maybe 1 or 2 guppies
>> or 1 or 2 neons might be good?
>>
>> --
>> http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>
>
> It's been my experience that keeping Bettas & brightly coloured fish with
> long tails (Guppies) can be problematic (for the Guppies ;~).
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

Ive never had any problems with bettas and guppies. I guess there possibly
could be some fin nipping going on.

--
http://www.mikesfishsite.com

[IDzine01]

Dan,
Getting a tankmate for your betta is really more for your benefit then
the fish's. Bettas are, by nature, territorial and don't require a
tankmate. Many will, however, tolerate several other species in their
tank. Netmax's recommendation of an apple snail and/or some ghost
shrimp was a good one. Whatever you may choose I would recommend
researching that animals particular needs first. Also, always assume
your new fish is harboring something yucky and properly quarantine it
for about 4 weeks prior to introducing it to your betta tank.

[Elaine T]

Mike wrote:
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>>"Mike" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>Ive kept bettas with neons and some other tetras and guppies in a 10
>>>gallon. But its been a while since Ive kept a betta in a nice tank, right
>>>now they are all in bowls... Also it does depend on the bettas
>>>personality or as netmax said the size of the tank, maybe 1 or 2 guppies
>>>or 1 or 2 neons might be good?
>>>
>>>--
>>>http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>>
>>
>>It's been my experience that keeping Bettas & brightly coloured fish with
>>long tails (Guppies) can be problematic (for the Guppies ;~).
>>--
>>www.NetMax.tk
>>
>
> Ive never had any problems with bettas and guppies. I guess there possibly
> could be some fin nipping going on.
>
Bettas and guppies are a very, very bad mixture. I lost one guppy and
still have others regrowing their tails from my ill-considered guppy and
betta experiment back in June.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Dan White]

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Dan,
> Getting a tankmate for your betta is really more for your benefit then
> the fish's. Bettas are, by nature, territorial and don't require a
> tankmate. Many will, however, tolerate several other species in their
> tank. Netmax's recommendation of an apple snail and/or some ghost
> shrimp was a good one. Whatever you may choose I would recommend
> researching that animals particular needs first. Also, always assume
> your new fish is harboring something yucky and properly quarantine it
> for about 4 weeks prior to introducing it to your betta tank.
>

OK, thanks for the advice. Some shrimp might be good. The apple snail
sounds kind of boring...:)

dwhite

[NetMax]

"Dan White" > wrote in message
...
> "IDzine01" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> Dan,
>> Getting a tankmate for your betta is really more for your benefit then
>> the fish's. Bettas are, by nature, territorial and don't require a
>> tankmate. Many will, however, tolerate several other species in their
>> tank. Netmax's recommendation of an apple snail and/or some ghost
>> shrimp was a good one. Whatever you may choose I would recommend
>> researching that animals particular needs first. Also, always assume
>> your new fish is harboring something yucky and properly quarantine it
>> for about 4 weeks prior to introducing it to your betta tank.
>>
>
> OK, thanks for the advice. Some shrimp might be good. The apple snail
> sounds kind of boring...:)
>
> dwhite


Regarding the Apple snail, I would tend to agree, but after gaining some
familiarity with them, I've found that they actually have a lot of
entertaining characteristics, such as floating to new hunting grounds,
the way they manipulate objects, and the way they rise and then sink
themselves to find food at higher levels. I had one customer which
nothing but an Apple snail after all her fish had long ago died from old
age. It was huge and very much the family pet, eating all sorts of fresh
vegetable scraps from the kitchen table.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[NetMax]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
et...
> Mike wrote:
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>
>>>"Mike" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>Ive kept bettas with neons and some other tetras and guppies in a 10
>>>>gallon. But its been a while since Ive kept a betta in a nice tank,
>>>>right now they are all in bowls... Also it does depend on the bettas
>>>>personality or as netmax said the size of the tank, maybe 1 or 2
>>>>guppies or 1 or 2 neons might be good?
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>http://www.mikesfishsite.com
>>>
>>>
>>>It's been my experience that keeping Bettas & brightly coloured fish
>>>with long tails (Guppies) can be problematic (for the Guppies ;~).
>>>--
>>>www.NetMax.tk
>>>
>>
>> Ive never had any problems with bettas and guppies. I guess there
>> possibly could be some fin nipping going on.
>>
> Bettas and guppies are a very, very bad mixture. I lost one guppy and
> still have others regrowing their tails from my ill-considered guppy
> and betta experiment back in June.
>
> --
> Elaine T

For every 2 people I've told not to mix Guppies and Bettas, I've had one
tell me that they already do without any trouble. Few fish are less
predictable than Bettas ;~). It really depends on their individual
personality. ...so ymmv
--
www.NetMax.tk