Betta with body modification fetish

Hannys_Papa

Hannys_Papa

AC Members
Aug 31, 2005
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Upstate NY
Every now and then my betta "likes" to chew on his fins. At one time he had a big chunk of his tail fin chewed off - over the past month he chewed on his top fin for at least 2 times.
No - its not fin rot. I actually caught him doing it - he wedges himself under the riccia or any other plant suitable and then nips his own fin.
So far they always grew back nicely.

I am just curious - anyone else had this problem with their bettas ? I came across someone mentioning this on another board a long time ago (when i fisrt thought about buying a betta and did research on them - but never since).

Do you think there's anything that can be done about it besides getting him one of these: ;)

bettaecollar.jpg
 
A betta lamp! I want one to read my fish book in the bed.

Seriously, your case is weird. Maybe if you put him a mirror his attention can be dire3cted towards his reflection and he will mind less about himself.

Other than that, are you feeding him well? I don't know if a hungry fish will eat his fins...

EDIT: Another assumption is his fins are too long and are really bothering him. If you find his fins are constantly hitting his face this might be annoying. Maybe a little current in the tank can solve this.
 
My current Betta, and my last one, chases its tail. He has never caught it yet, but now you got me wondering what he would do if he caught it. Or if his tail grows longer. Hey where do you buy e-collar's like that one?? hehe
 
I personally have never had one that bit his own fins...though i recently had a betta that got sucked up into my syphon when i wasnt paying attention and syphoning his tank out....STUIPD me.... :( then his fins kind fell off, but a bit of salt and some melafix/permifix did the job...they grew back and look great
 
I had that problem with one of my Bettas, and I know other people who have had the same problem. He stopped after a while, but his tail never looked the same. I really don't know how to stop it.
 
I am glad a few of you enjoyed the picture.

I guess its another of the things that can be filed under "crazy betta behaviour".

I don't think its hunger - even though i try not to overfeed. He however gets fed daily and a good variety of food. The few days every now and then that he fasts weren't the days he decided to give himself a "trim". lol

Patoloco has a point though. While his fins don't slap him in the face - they are extremely long. The picture i used is actually one taken when i got him - his fins grew way longer - and are probably 1/2" longer than his body.

I am not really worried about him although i am thinking about the possibility of him catching a bacterial infection some day because of his fetish - especially when he gets older and his immune system might not be as good anymore.
 
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