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Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 6:25 pm
by 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?
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 7:20 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 7:29 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 8:06 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 8:25 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 9:04 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 10:56 pm
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 12:37 am
by Bouldur
kindpulse wrote: ↑Thu Aug 07, 2025 7:20 pm
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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:21 am
by 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.
Re: Betta fish and fin damage recovery
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 2:38 am
by 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.