Do Bettas

[zeon]

trim their own fins. My guy Han...His fins got so long and flowing that he could not swim very long at all. So I caught him one day 'trimming' all his fins..He was chewing them off. Well after about two days or so, they were trimmed back to about the size they were when I got him. And he stopped and started swimming more normal again... Is this normal for Bettas? I am sure it is, I just wanted to ask you guys that have more experience with them. I have had my guy for a while now. Love him to death.

[Rue]

That's a first!

Dunno what to say!

[ncbuckeye]

I've never heard of it, but I'd like to see it, and see what everyone says about it.

[cocoa_pleco]

ive heard they do that from stress or boredom, usually bettas in tanks under 5g do that. what size tank does he have?

[MandyL]

Never heard of it... Maybe like birds that pluck their feathers due to stress, boredom, or illness?

[Mvjnz]

Sounds abnormal to me. Do you let him flare at all? If not, that could be why his fins are too heavy for him. Flaring will build his muscles. Get a small mirror and let him flare for about 15 minutes a day.

[Hailey]

my betta did it a while ago when I first put him into his new, bigger, filtered tank. It really freaked me out, so I asked about it on here. No one had really ever heard of it. So I looked up more on it and some will do it when they are stressed or bored. You should put some meds in there so he woun't get an infection. Luckly my guy stopped the next day and his fins are lookin good again now.
Is there any reason he may be stressed? is the tank a bit too small? is he bored?
Just keep an eye on him! and let us know whats up.
Good Luck!

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Or if they are getting scraped on something sharp...

[DragonGoby]

I find some information about this... If his fin are becomming quiet long, he's going to nip at it, because he can't swim... Perhaps you have too much current in his tank?
You can also have this if he's stressed or bored... Waht's the size of his tank? if it's too little, he certainly can move as he want or have as much activity as in the wild... What you can do, is changing he's surrounding, in the tank or around it... you can play with him... Like moving your finger before him, using a mirror, or a little ball (ping pong is good)....
If his tank don't have any substrate you can use a little marble, (those use to decorate aquarium), that he can push it around...

Good luck with him and keep us posted!

[zeon]

Thank you all for the different input and advice. He has a large tank, well I think it is. He is the only fish in it, 6 gallon Eclipse. I did check his water again and everything is spot on as far as readings go. I did his weekly water change yesterday and re arranged his tank. I do let him flare at a mirror but not as often as you suggested. The current is not strong from the built in filter. Also I do wiggle my finger in the top of the water before feedings, I let him nip at my finger tip..let him feel like he is 'the big man' he he, then I give him his food. I started doing that just to make sure I had his attention so he would see his food. He does not seem stressed at all, no signs of disease. I am leaning toward the thought that he is just trimming his fins, perhaps a little bored..That is why I rearranged his tank. New places to explore. Oh and he does have gravel, he often noses around in it. I will keep you guys updated. Thanks again for the advice. :)

[Nick_Pavlovski]

You may want to start have weekly or twice weekly "flaring" sessions, where you hold up a mirror against the tank for a few minutes and let him get good and angry at his own reflection.
Keeps 'em on their toes...mine hunts the whole tank out after a session just in case that pesky reflection is going to pop up somewhere else...