Hi everyone, I'm having some issues with my fin_tank's fins. They seem to be thinning out, especially the pectoflake fins - it's been gradual, but it's gotten worse lately. Now his dorsal and caudal fins are also affected.
I've taken some photos during yesterday's tank cleaning, which show how translucent the pectoflake and dorsal fins are becoming. The pectoflake fin thinning is a bit more subtle.
Here's a picture from a couple of months ago to give you an idea of my tank setup.
I've gathered some info that might help figure out what's going on. Here are the test results from this morning:
pH: 7.8
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
Tank size: 3.5 gal
Cleaning routine: I do a quarter water change every week to every other week
Water source: tap water that's been aerated for a week or more
Temperature: ranges from 72 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit
Tankmates: two nerite snails, added just over a week ago
Decor: two live anubias plants attached to driftwood
Filter: Topfin element filter
Heater: Cobalt Aquatics submersible aquarium heater (5W)
Food: Aqueon betta food
I've had my fish for almost a year now.
If you have any questions or advice, I'd really appreciate it!
betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
Re: betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
Hi finsage,
One thing I wanted to ask, do you use a dechlorinator when you're preparing the tap water for your tank, or do you just let it aerate for a week? I'm asking because if you live in the US or the UK, there's a good chance your tap water has chloramine in it, which doesn't come out with just aeration. If you live in Australia, you might have chlorine, but it's possible to have chloramine too, depending on your location.
You can contact your water supply company to find out what they use. Chlorine will evaporate from the tap water with aeration, but chloramine won't.
Regarding your fin_tank's thinning fins, one possibility is poor water quality or a bacterial/protozoan infection. Have you considered doing more frequent water changes? I'd recommend doing a 75% water change and gravel cleaning the substrate every day for at least a week. After that, try to do a 75% water change and gravel cleaning at least once a week. If you don't see any improvement after a week of daily water changes, it might be helpful to post another picture.
There's a thread on this forum that has some useful info on how to care for a sick fish. It's a bit of a long read, but it's worth checking out.
As for your fish's diet, you might want to try offering some different foods to see if that helps. If you have a garden with roses, you can collect aphids and feed them to your fish. You can also try feeding small flies, moths, or mosquitoes. Just make sure any insects you use are free of chemicals and haven't been sprayed with anything.
You can also try buying frozen fish food like daphnia, brine shrimp, or bloodworms at a pet shop. Just thaw out a small amount each day and feed it to your fish. With bloodworms or marine mix, you can cut them up into smaller pieces with scissors so they're easier for your fish to eat.
If you can't get frozen food, you can try feeding your fish raw or cooked fish or prawn. Just be sure to remove the head, shell, and gut from the prawn, and cut the remaining prawn tail into small bits. Feed your fish one or two bits at a time, and remove any uneaten food. Wash your hands and scissors with soapy water before handling food again.
One thing I wanted to ask, do you use a dechlorinator when you're preparing the tap water for your tank, or do you just let it aerate for a week? I'm asking because if you live in the US or the UK, there's a good chance your tap water has chloramine in it, which doesn't come out with just aeration. If you live in Australia, you might have chlorine, but it's possible to have chloramine too, depending on your location.
You can contact your water supply company to find out what they use. Chlorine will evaporate from the tap water with aeration, but chloramine won't.
Regarding your fin_tank's thinning fins, one possibility is poor water quality or a bacterial/protozoan infection. Have you considered doing more frequent water changes? I'd recommend doing a 75% water change and gravel cleaning the substrate every day for at least a week. After that, try to do a 75% water change and gravel cleaning at least once a week. If you don't see any improvement after a week of daily water changes, it might be helpful to post another picture.
There's a thread on this forum that has some useful info on how to care for a sick fish. It's a bit of a long read, but it's worth checking out.
As for your fish's diet, you might want to try offering some different foods to see if that helps. If you have a garden with roses, you can collect aphids and feed them to your fish. You can also try feeding small flies, moths, or mosquitoes. Just make sure any insects you use are free of chemicals and haven't been sprayed with anything.
You can also try buying frozen fish food like daphnia, brine shrimp, or bloodworms at a pet shop. Just thaw out a small amount each day and feed it to your fish. With bloodworms or marine mix, you can cut them up into smaller pieces with scissors so they're easier for your fish to eat.
If you can't get frozen food, you can try feeding your fish raw or cooked fish or prawn. Just be sure to remove the head, shell, and gut from the prawn, and cut the remaining prawn tail into small bits. Feed your fish one or two bits at a time, and remove any uneaten food. Wash your hands and scissors with soapy water before handling food again.
Re: betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
I really appreciate you taking the time to write such a detailed response. I was completely unaware of clamped fins, and now I'm getting a bit anxious about my fish. After doing some research, I'm hoping his case isn't too severe since he's not showing all the symptoms, like swimming vertically. I'm wondering if the lower temperature could be a contributing factor, but I guess we'll start by ruling out water quality issues first. I'll pick up some Prime water conditioner today - my friend uses it - and then begin the daily water changes and gravel cleaning. I'll keep this updated and let you know how things go.
Re: betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
I just noticed another hole in his tail now - it's really concerning. I'm having trouble taking a photo because he's always on the move, but I suppose that's a good sign. I'm getting really worried about my fish. Is there anything else I can do to help him? Would starting a thread in the emergency section be helpful?
Re: betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
The temperature seems to be within a tolerable range for your fish, considering it's been at that level for a while and your fin_tank is still swimming about and eating.
The hole in the tail is likely caused by bacterial infection. I'd recommend doing the daily water changes for a few days to see if the condition worsens. If it does, we may need to consider treating the fish with medication. However, let's try the water changes first and monitor the situation.
As for starting a new thread in the emergency section, I wouldn't recommend it. We've already got all the relevant information here, and I'll be happy to continue assisting you in this thread.
The hole in the tail is likely caused by bacterial infection. I'd recommend doing the daily water changes for a few days to see if the condition worsens. If it does, we may need to consider treating the fish with medication. However, let's try the water changes first and monitor the situation.
As for starting a new thread in the emergency section, I wouldn't recommend it. We've already got all the relevant information here, and I'll be happy to continue assisting you in this thread.
Re: betta's fins are thinning, what's causing it?
Some folks might not agree with me, but I've found that adding a pinch of aquarium salt can really help with healing. I'm on board with the daily water changes too. Given the tank's small size, I'd recommend 1/2 tsp of aquarium salt - not the stuff from your kitchen, mind you. Just mix the salt in a small cup of tank water first, stir it up real good to dissolve it, and then add it to the tank. This way, you avoid any stinging or discomfort for your finned friend. It's a gentle, natural remedy that's worth a shot.
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