Fin rot?

[meclem3]

I'm not sure if this is the beginning of fin rot or not. The first picture is from September 9 and the second is from today, September 17. The edges of his tale seem to be becoming increasingly thinner and clear.
I am doing partial water changes about every 6 days. He is in a 3.5 gallon tank with a filter and heater at approximately 79°-80°F.
If it is fin rot, what should I do?

 

[mbkemp]

Start with more water changes. What could be causing stress?

 

[meclem3]

It's his reflection.

Indeed, he is quite stressed I believe. The poor guy is constantly swimming around the glass and charging his reflection. I have tried so many different things. I have tried putting a black t-shirt over the tank, a white t-shirt, a book with flowers on the front by his tank, different lighting positions and levels, and most recently a rag on the side of the tank. The rag seems to calm him down a little bit but he still will do these frantic movements when he is at the front of the tank or near the wall. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Yes, I now know that with a rounded tank the light doesn't come in at good angles and creates a mirror effect. I don't know what to do for the poor guy. Some people have suggested getting a black background from the store on the back while others have said white.
What should I do?

 

[mbkemp]

Is there any filtration in that? Air exchange?

 

[meclem3]

There is a filter and I keep the flap used to drop pellets in open in order to keep oxygen flowing into the tank. There is no air pump in the tank.

 

[mbkemp]

Gotcha, stress is a killer. Seems to me he is in territorial mode. I think solve that with more water changes

 

[Matt68005]

how are constantly fluctuating water parameters gonna reduce stress?
If the tank is cycled, no need to change water unless nitrates rise abouve 40-60ish

 

[V227]

I know it's a small tank but have you thought about adding a few tiny fish such as Zebra fish to distract your glass surfing betta. They might work as dither fish to distract the Betta from his own reflection. Just a thought.

 

[meclem3]

Will the betta eat the dither?

 

[V227]

I don't think your Betta is fast enough to catch a healthy zebra fish. Even if he gets lucky, zebras cost about a buck apiece, Some times two for a dollar. If you choose Zebras, buy four or five so they won't get nippy.

 

[Andy Bo]

Just a thought here; in order to rule out the tank being a contributing factor to the aggression, you may want to put him in a different tank and see how he behaves. My betta, also has what I believe to be the same condition as yours, but he is a normal acting happy fish. I did not know about the medications to treat this so, thank you, forum contributors.

 

[Andy Bo]

Perhaps not fin rot.

I mentioned that my betta, his name is Fish, had the same thing happen. At first I was concerned but decided to watch it. It progressed to a point like your pictures and stopped. Again, he is a healthy, happy Fish. I wonder if this is normal aging for a betta. I noticed that your buddy's issue is very uniform just like Fish's is. I would expect to see something different with fin rot. Perhaps this just naturally occurs when they get older and bigger. Fish is about 3 times the size from when I got him out of that tiny cup. Of course, I am no expert. Just wanted to share my experience with this.

 

[Toad]

I don't think your Betta is fast enough to catch a healthy zebra fish. Even if he gets lucky, zebras cost about a buck apiece, Some times two for a dollar. If you choose Zebras, buy four or five so they won't get nippy.

Just... no. It's a 3.5g, so already stocked, zebra can be nippy and need at least a 20g because they seriously like to swim, and like cooler water, so would not do well in the temps bettas need.

I think he just needs more time to settle, I'd add a few more plants to break up sight lines any reflections.