Author Topic: fin rot or tail biting?  (Read 1231 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline brego

  • Small Fry
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Gender: Female
fin rot or tail biting?
« on: May 09, 2012, 03:33:27 PM »
so i woke up this morning and low and behold half of mufasas tail was gone  :13: it was perfect when i changed his water on monday and now its gone. it doesn't look black or clear around the edges, just gone. i have seen him swimming in circles like hes trying to bite his tail, but can he eat his whole tail in one night? does fin rot work that fast? hes in a heated 2.5 gallon and gets 2 100% changes each week.
what is happening and what do i do?
i can seem to post pics but im working on it.

Online LittlePuff

  • The "mod who doesn't mince words"
  • Global Moderator
  • Diamond Discus
  • *
  • Posts: 3457
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2012, 07:51:23 AM »
That is very weird. If it was fin rot, it would have taken longer and the would look kind of shredded. I assume we're talking about a betta, and there is no one else in the tank. A pic would be nice. Once you upload it to your My Photos file, you go to reply instead of typing in the box. There is an option to add a pic, then you can browse and add it.
90gal Upgrade from the 55gal.
55gal 5"porcupine puffer, 2 clownfish, 1 molly, and chocolate chip starfish, one Orange Diamond Goby

Offline brego

  • Small Fry
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2012, 02:38:50 PM »
heres now. he had double the length before

Online LittlePuff

  • The "mod who doesn't mince words"
  • Global Moderator
  • Diamond Discus
  • *
  • Posts: 3457
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2012, 08:59:06 PM »
It looks like fin rot, but it wouldn't happen overnight. Has it gotten worse or stayed the same? Very weird. I'll ask Sandypup to look at it.
90gal Upgrade from the 55gal.
55gal 5"porcupine puffer, 2 clownfish, 1 molly, and chocolate chip starfish, one Orange Diamond Goby

Offline brego

  • Small Fry
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2012, 01:28:58 AM »
as far as i can tell its stayed the same.

Offline Sandypup

  • Board Moderator
  • Diamond Discus
  • *
  • Posts: 1934
  • Gender: Female
    • Dork & Doodle
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2012, 05:30:21 AM »
My guess would be biting, honestly! I've had biters in the past and some of them would literally eat their fins overnight! Keep the water clean and watch out for fin rot. If he has fin rot there will be black along the edges of his fins, but if it's clear edges then it's regrowth.

I had a betta named Mook that was such a brat about nipping his fins! I never got them to fully grow out because he wouldn't let them. When he continued I would rearrange his tank, add new items, take some out, etc. I ended up giving him to a woman with a larger tank that was in a busy area of her house because I figured out Mook was just bored. Apparently eating fins is fun!

I'd try rearranging items, adding something new maybe, or even finding him a floating toy!

Offline brego

  • Small Fry
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2012, 12:41:38 AM »
oh good, i'm really hoping its not fin rot. but i'm keeping a watch on it. i rearranged his tank today when i did a water change so hopefully that will stop the biting. is there anything i can do to promote new tail growth?

Offline Sandypup

  • Board Moderator
  • Diamond Discus
  • *
  • Posts: 1934
  • Gender: Female
    • Dork & Doodle
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2012, 06:06:05 AM »
Just keep the water clean, heated, and maybe add some aquarium salt if you have any on hand. As long as the water is kept clean it should grow back in no time, though it might not look as good.

Offline wendyjo

  • Diamond Discus
  • *****
  • Posts: 6561
  • Gender: Female
  • WOOF!
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2012, 07:42:34 PM »
I've had fin rot happen really fast in one of my boys, pretty much overnight, but it looked alot more raggedy than that does.  His tail went to a full veil tail to almost nothing so fast it was scarey, and I was afraid I'd lose him cause it was nearly at his body.  In his case a round of antibiotics fixed him up pretty well.

I've never had a biter but that nearly looks like a clean cut (or bite).  I agree to keep a close eye on it cause even if it's not rot it could get infected.  But it doesn't look black, raggedy or rotted to me.
Fish Are People Too!

Offline brego

  • Small Fry
  • *
  • Posts: 19
  • Gender: Female
Re: fin rot or tail biting?
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2012, 05:46:19 PM »
well it wasn't fin rot!  :up: ;D his tail is staring to grow back quite nicely. though why he was biting is still a mystery  :dunno: