Topic: more tail troubles! UGH!

[firestar]

LOL, it's all good.

Bettas are just like children.  Some kids can go their entire childhood without a single problem, while others seem to get an ear infection or a cold, or chicken pox or this or that or the other thing every week.  But then they look at your with their big dark eyes and you can't stay mad at them.

As for poor Eggplant, I'm at a loss for suggestions.  Hearing that regrowth started, and then a new rip happened, I'm inclined to lean towards biting, because that does fit the pattern, but I'm not vet.  I'm a 20 year old kid who failed intro biology.  What do I know?

[angie02144]

I totally think he does bite but this new hole is just a hole on the tippity top fin so I wondered if the maracyn was even working....I give up.  I am just going to keep doing the maracyn for the rest of the 5 day period left and maybe I will try it for another 5 day period and see if he may just need a longer time to get it taken care of.

I know there is no easy answer about this, I am just getting so frustrated that I can't make it better!  It's kind of funny and ironic though that I get a fish that needs all this special care....my son has tons of different medical issues and special needs and people always used to say well, he was sent to you since you can handle it....well, I can handle my son but this fish is putting me over the edge with his issues and needs!!!  

Go figure!
Angela

[angie02144]

by the way...what is stress coat?  Is that something I should be doing regardless?  I use water conditioner..never used stress coat!

Angela

[ruthcatrin]

Stress coat is a type of water conditioner, though I always add some (or an equivilant) when adding new fish to a tank.

[angie02144]

is that something I should use on top of my regular conditioner or should I use that instead?  

I can see the tiniest amount transparent little edge on his back fin, it looks less than the other day and more ragged!  I think he is nipping at it or the rot is hurting it more.   His top fin has a large hole in the middle which will spread and most likely become a large tear shortly.  

I am changing his water every 2 days 100% and his tank is nice and warm.  I bought a thermometer and the tanks are nice and warm.

Can anyone tell me if he could be getting rot or nipping due to stress???  I have him close by the other two guys who like to spend part of their day checking each other out and flaring.  I think he is happy since the day I put them next to each other and took out his filter he started to create bubble nests.  I would move him if it would mellow him out a bit.  Any thoughts about that?

Angela

[ruthcatrin]

Hard to say, next time you're in the LFS take a look at the Stress Coat and decide for yourself.  I like it, its what I've almost always used for conditioner, even when I use something else to condition the water I still add a bit of Stress Coat.  I donno, maybe I dont' need to, but it seems to help.

[angie02144]

Alright, I definitely got a biter here.  I woke up this morning to find a big chunk out of his back tail!  Instead of having a hole back fin and bottom fin, he has two bottoms and two backs!  What a mess!  

I will continue cleaning him constantly and adding salt.  Should I add melafix or is it not even worth it?  

I guess I just have to accept that this is the nutty fish that I have but I wish he would stop since his tail is so beautiful when it's perfect.  He is blew a huge nest which wasn't there last night and neither was the huge chunk!

I give up!
Thanks for all the help!
Angela

[angie02144]

here is his most recent damage!

[attachment deleted by mean old server people]

[Squeek]

Oh yeah, hes a tail biter! It's Phantoms' new craze too! Pitty because he had such a beautiful tail.

 Have you tried to re-arrange the tank every week to keep him stimulated. If you have another betta near him, swap the tanks around so that they are on opposite side to what they were previously (do this with the mirror if that is what you use)  Melafix and salt should help.

[angie02144]

I will move his tank to the middle or other side of the three tanks.  He has a silk plant and a hamster tunnel toy in there and I do move it to different areas at each water change.  I may change the toy and plant every so often to new items.

He's very active and blows huge nests....he just likes to bite.  It's so frustrating!  His tail was gorgeous and huge!  

Angela