I've had my betta in a 10 gal. with some corys for a couple months now, and everything has been going great. I did notice he was swimming very close to the intake tube of the filter a few times, but he always swam away quickly and I figured he could handle it.
A few days ago, I had the flu, and didn't look in my tank for a whole day, which is a first. The next day, when I peeked inside, my bettas tail fins were a lot shorter, and shredded at the ends. I'm sure the filter finally caught them, because he's been hanging out around it a lot. I was very upset with him for doing that to his beautiful fins. Why would he choose to spend so much time around there when he has the whole tank to choose from? I feel like a mother I know whose beautiful toddler cut off all his blonde curls with plastic scissors.
Anyway, he's still his happy self, eating like a pig, swimming around and flaring. But I'm wondering what I can do for him to help his fins grow back. I've heard of Melaflix, should I use that? Would it harm the snail in the tank with him, the corys or the live plants? I'm going to Ireland for a week on Monday, and I don't think I want to leave medication in the tank while I'm gone unless I'm really sure it's not going to harm anything. Do you think he would be okay if I just did a water change with some extra Stress Coat a couple days before I leave, and then put medication when I get back? Again, he doesn't seem to be affected by this at all. Is that going to change? I am going to get some foam to put around the intake tube so the damage doesn't worsen, because he's proved his intelligence is not top notch. Hopefully, this won't affect the flow of the filter.
A few days ago, I had the flu, and didn't look in my tank for a whole day, which is a first. The next day, when I peeked inside, my bettas tail fins were a lot shorter, and shredded at the ends. I'm sure the filter finally caught them, because he's been hanging out around it a lot. I was very upset with him for doing that to his beautiful fins. Why would he choose to spend so much time around there when he has the whole tank to choose from? I feel like a mother I know whose beautiful toddler cut off all his blonde curls with plastic scissors.
Anyway, he's still his happy self, eating like a pig, swimming around and flaring. But I'm wondering what I can do for him to help his fins grow back. I've heard of Melaflix, should I use that? Would it harm the snail in the tank with him, the corys or the live plants? I'm going to Ireland for a week on Monday, and I don't think I want to leave medication in the tank while I'm gone unless I'm really sure it's not going to harm anything. Do you think he would be okay if I just did a water change with some extra Stress Coat a couple days before I leave, and then put medication when I get back? Again, he doesn't seem to be affected by this at all. Is that going to change? I am going to get some foam to put around the intake tube so the damage doesn't worsen, because he's proved his intelligence is not top notch. Hopefully, this won't affect the flow of the filter.