Betta Constantly Blowing Fins

ValMM · 06-13-2011, 01:54 AM

Hi everyone,
My veil-tail is very fish aggressive. When I had him in a 5 gallon tank, if there was any light that made a reflection of himself he flared. All day long.
His tail fin was shredded and because he continued to flare it couldn't heal.
At night, it would be dark in the dorm except for the glow from either outside or my laptop. He flared. I would put a towel over the tank in order to make it dark enough that he couldn't see.
I ended up having to put him in a 1 gallon fish bowl, now he only flares at a mirror or when he can see his reflection in the glass when the right light hits the bowl. Since he's been in the bowl, he hasn't flared as constantly and his tail fin has healed.

When I am able to put him in a larger tank again, what can I do about his constant flaring?

Val

amcoffeegirl · 06-13-2011, 02:57 AM

I had the same trouble with a hm i got from thailand. i had him in a split 10gallon with a female and had to move him to a 3 gallon. he is doing much better now. Give him lots of fresh warm water changes and he should be fine again soon. Mine got so bad after he split his tail he got fin rot and i thought he would die. but now he looks good again. lucky me.

wendyjo · 06-13-2011, 03:52 AM

Typically they can see their reflection when the light in/on the tank is brighter than the ambient light in the room. So maybe try to keep the tank a bit darker. Other than that I dunno how to change his behavior. Mine usually act that way for a week or so until they adjust and then they only flare at me or at their reflections if I leave the tank light on and turn the room lights off.

**Betta Maniac** · 06-13-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendyjo

Mine usually act that way for a week or so until they adjust.

+1. I thought my crowntail was going nuts when I moved him into the 20-long, but he chilled out after a week or so.

ValMM · 06-14-2011, 11:52 PM

I normally don't keep the tank light on during the day, the plants are all low light and do fine without a lot of it. All there has to be is a room light on or sun coming through a window and he flares.

**orchidman** · 06-14-2011, 11:53 PM

my plakat used to swim around and flare. then do a lap and flare again. but that was when he was new in the tank

ValMM · 06-14-2011, 11:59 PM

So it's just a waiting game until he gets settled in? With fin rot meds in hand, of course. lol

ValMM · 06-22-2011, 08:13 PM

Okay, I have decided that when I can put the betta back in the 5 gallon tank, I will use the 1 gallon bowl for Sea Monkies that my boyfriend gave me.

**Betta Maniac** · 06-22-2011, 09:43 PM

Bettas love to eat sea monkeys . . .

ValMM · 06-23-2011, 01:06 AM

Exactly!

ValMM · 06-27-2011, 11:18 PM

I am back from camping! The betta is in his 5 gallon aquarium. He seems to be adjusting, and not too much flaring. I hope it doesn't get worse.

ValMM · 06-28-2011, 10:36 PM

Well, he seems to be flaring more. I haven't been watching him, so I don't know how active he is. His tail isn't ripped yet, so I think that's a good sign.
I also set up the 1 gallon bowl for sea monkeys. They're swimming around today, and they're so tiny!!!

ValMM · 06-29-2011, 01:12 PM

Meut jan's tailfin is starting to look like a flag that's been to war. Just the end of it, but I'm still disappointed in him.
I have a question! Does anyone know about the usefulness of Bettafix? I got some a couple years ago for a different betta and it didn't seem to be very useful. I just want to know people's experiences with the product.

alex009 · 06-29-2011, 05:18 PM

Use aquarium salt. Or Indian almond leaves (or the extract). I hear that this stuff works like a miracle and boosts their immune system.

ValMM · 06-29-2011, 07:24 PM

Where do you buy I.A.L. extract? online?

06-13-2011, 01:54 AM	#1
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Betta Constantly Blowing Fins Hi everyone, My veil-tail is very fish aggressive. When I had him in a 5 gallon tank, if there was any light that made a reflection of himself he flared. All day long. His tail fin was shredded and because he continued to flare it couldn't heal. At night, it would be dark in the dorm except for the glow from either outside or my laptop. He flared. I would put a towel over the tank in order to make it dark enough that he couldn't see. I ended up having to put him in a 1 gallon fish bowl, now he only flares at a mirror or when he can see his reflection in the glass when the right light hits the bowl. Since he's been in the bowl, he hasn't flared as constantly and his tail fin has healed. When I am able to put him in a larger tank again, what can I do about his constant flaring? Val __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-14-2011, 11:52 PM	#5
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	I normally don't keep the tank light on during the day, the plants are all low light and do fine without a lot of it. All there has to be is a room light on or sun coming through a window and he flares. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-14-2011, 11:53 PM	#6
orchidman Sara is AWESOME (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,348	my plakat used to swim around and flare. then do a lap and flare again. but that was when he was new in the tank __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...io-de-rio.html http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...gal-betta.html

06-14-2011, 11:59 PM	#7
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	So it's just a waiting game until he gets settled in? With fin rot meds in hand, of course. lol __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-22-2011, 08:13 PM	#8
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Okay, I have decided that when I can put the betta back in the 5 gallon tank, I will use the 1 gallon bowl for Sea Monkies that my boyfriend gave me. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-13-2011, 02:57 AM	#2
amcoffeegirl Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: iowa Posts: 676	I had the same trouble with a hm i got from thailand. i had him in a split 10gallon with a female and had to move him to a 3 gallon. he is doing much better now. Give him lots of fresh warm water changes and he should be fine again soon. Mine got so bad after he split his tail he got fin rot and i thought he would die. but now he looks good again. lucky me.

06-13-2011, 03:52 AM	#3
wendyjo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: DC area Posts: 2,815	Typically they can see their reflection when the light in/on the tank is brighter than the ambient light in the room. So maybe try to keep the tank a bit darker. Other than that I dunno how to change his behavior. Mine usually act that way for a week or so until they adjust and then they only flare at me or at their reflections if I leave the tank light on and turn the room lights off.

06-22-2011, 09:43 PM	#9
Betta Maniac Wanabe BKK Herder (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: IHella<3Oakland Posts: 2,097	Bettas love to eat sea monkeys . . . __________________ BKK Money Pit 20G Long SE Asian Biotope

06-23-2011, 01:06 AM	#10
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Exactly! __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-27-2011, 11:18 PM	#11
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	I am back from camping! The betta is in his 5 gallon aquarium. He seems to be adjusting, and not too much flaring. I hope it doesn't get worse. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-28-2011, 10:36 PM	#12
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Well, he seems to be flaring more. I haven't been watching him, so I don't know how active he is. His tail isn't ripped yet, so I think that's a good sign. I also set up the 1 gallon bowl for sea monkeys. They're swimming around today, and they're so tiny!!! __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-29-2011, 01:12 PM	#13
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Meut jan's tailfin is starting to look like a flag that's been to war. Just the end of it, but I'm still disappointed in him. I have a question! Does anyone know about the usefulness of Bettafix? I got some a couple years ago for a different betta and it didn't seem to be very useful. I just want to know people's experiences with the product. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

06-29-2011, 05:18 PM	#14
alex009 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: United States Posts: 53	Use aquarium salt. Or Indian almond leaves (or the extract). I hear that this stuff works like a miracle and boosts their immune system.

06-29-2011, 07:24 PM	#15
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	Where do you buy I.A.L. extract? online? __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

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