Betta fish and fin damage recovery

[whisker]

My betta's fins got torn up after adding some new tankmates. Gonna try to help him recover, but not sure what's the best approach. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Tank is 10 gallons, heated to 78F, sponge filter. Any tips?

[kindpulse]

First off, separate the aggressive tankmates ASAP. Fin damage can get infected real quick. Keep the water super clean, do 20% water changes every other day. Add some Indian almond leaves, they're great for healing. Also, stress coat helps with slime coat regeneration.

[northo]

Yep, agree with kindpulse. Had a similar issue last month. My dude's fins were shredded, but with clean water and almond leaves, they grew back in like three weeks. Just gotta be patient and keep an eye on him.

[starfish9]

How often are you feeding him? Sometimes upping the protein helps with recovery. I'd recommend frozen bloodworms or daphnia a couple times a week. Also, make sure the flow isn't too strong, sponge filters are usually chill but double-check.

[dusk92]

If the damage is bad, you might wanna consider a hospital tank. Less stress, easier to monitor. Just a bare-bottom setup with the same water params. Keep it simple.

[briaridge]

I've had success with aquarium salt for minor fin damage. Just a teaspoon per gallon, but only for a short period. Too much can mess with their kidneys.

[Dolphin]

What kind of tankmates caused the damage? Some fish just don't mix well with bettas, no matter the tank size. Might wanna rethink the stocking.

[Bouldur]

First off, separate the aggressive tankmates ASAP. Fin damage can get infected real quick. Keep the water super clean, do 20% water changes every other day. Add some Indian almond leaves, they're great for healing. Also, stress coat helps with slime coat regeneration.

This is solid advice. I'd also add that keeping the lights dim can reduce stress while he's healing.

[mythicore]

If you're using salt, make sure to dissolve it in water before adding it to the tank. Dumping it straight in can irritate their skin. Learned that the hard way.

[seaborn]

Monitor for signs of infection like redness or fraying edges. If you see any, you might need an antibiotic like erythromycin. But clean water is usually enough if you catch it early.