Betta with tiny holes in fins

Hannys_Papa

Hannys_Papa

AC Members
Aug 31, 2005
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Upstate NY
Hi. I just noticed my betta has tiny "holes" in his fins and i dont quite understand/ know what it could be.

The tank parameters are:

10 Gallon - set up 4+ months - cycled for at least 3
50-60% waterchange every 5-7 days (last 4 days ago)
Silk and some life plants
Temperature 77-80 degrees

ph = 6.8-7.0
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate ~5 (very low - hardly any change in colour)

Food: Hikari Pellets, FD bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp

Here is a pic of my betta and one i "took" off the web and photoshopped to illustrate what kind of damage i am talking about as my camera cant pic it up. The holes are very tiny and you can basically only see them when the light shines through. I am very unexperienced with fish disease/ problems and only have seen finrot in a goldfish before - and that was at the end of the fishs fins and the area around the rot looked whitish.
In this case it looks like the fins "got thin". I just dont know how to describe it. Its in the blue areas in his fins - again the "Before/ Now" shot is of another betta just to show what i mean.

DSC02959_small.jpg


Fin-damage2.jpg


What should i do now ?
 
Often betta fins can be damaged through rubbing against things. They are very tender fins so can rip easily. It isn't always the sign of a disease. The fins will repair themselevs given time and a good diet but I find the water should be treated to prevent disease from setting into the wounds. You are already doing good water changes so that is great. I would suggest either adding BettaFix - a teatree oil medication, Melafix - a stronger version so use half strength, or else some simple NaCl (salt) added to the water at 1 tsp per gallon of water. If you use the salt just mix it into the change water and add it that way. I would leave the salt in for a week or 2 and then just take it out through regular water changes. Any of those emthods should help towards a speedy recovery.
 
Hannys_Papa,

Boy, that's odd. I just noticed this morning that Jakers also has a tiny hole in his tail. It's back a little further than yours. He's already in salt, so I'm hoping it'll heal on its own.

Roan
 
Mmmmh i am still worried.... but i guess for now i can only have a close eye on it.

If i try salt - how fast should i add it ? TKOS suggested 1tsp per gallon. SO that makes about 9tsp (after decor/ gravel). Over what ammount should i add that ? 1 tsp per hour ? More ? Less ?
 
Well i took some pics today. Its now visible even with my camera. Yesterday and today look pretty much the same - it seems like the blue parts are disappearing out of his tail/ fins.

Fins01.jpg


Fins02.jpg


Fins03.jpg


I am really worried. I cant seem to find any pictures of anything similar anywheres on the web....
 
Why would he do it though ? I only got him for a little under 3 months - so isnt he still fairly young ?
His fins grew a lot over the past months (especially the ones under his body but also his tail) .... as you can see when you compare my avatar to the recent pics....so we also though this meant he is still young.
 
Well from what I can see, it is a genetic predispositon...These fish are bred be the zillions with no regard for strong genes...If he is actively growing, those tears could result from that...They should heal up...There isnt a thing you can do about it -sorry :(

P.S- if I had to put an age on him- I would guess a year old...
 
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