Liumchen
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
We just moved to a new apartment five days ago. Since then (about two days ago), I have moved my prized Betta pair to a filtered ten gallon, after having previously been in a 3.5 with completely still water and dim lighting. The filter is a mini one that causes very little current, but still some, and is technically too small for their tank. It gets the job done, though, until I find another slow-output ten gallon filter.
The pair have been together for a few months now, never any major outbursts. At the start, he inflicted some minor fin damage to her, but nothing recently. He frequently flares and shows off to her, non-aggressively, and they swim close together without fuss often. Up until just this afternoon or evening, his fins had always been PERFECT. Not a mark ever on them. I've been watching the pair over the past hour, and they're still interacting with each other and acting the same as always.
Except that his fins are suddenly shredded. I've seen damage from fin-nipping before, and it doesn't look like that to me. The female did get a little skittish and displayed stress stripes for a while after being moved to the new tank, but they're fading now, and I've seen her breeding stripes a few times today. Her behaviour has calmed completely.
I apologize for the darkness of the photos. The light is at the back of the tank, but he always stays close to the front when he sees me because he thinks there's food. I can try and take some better ones tomorrow when the room is lighter.
I'm just really confused by this. I don't think it's fin nipping, and I don't think it's just some sudden disease or anything, either. His fins were totally fine this morning. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Questions are welcome. Thank you.
The pair have been together for a few months now, never any major outbursts. At the start, he inflicted some minor fin damage to her, but nothing recently. He frequently flares and shows off to her, non-aggressively, and they swim close together without fuss often. Up until just this afternoon or evening, his fins had always been PERFECT. Not a mark ever on them. I've been watching the pair over the past hour, and they're still interacting with each other and acting the same as always.
Except that his fins are suddenly shredded. I've seen damage from fin-nipping before, and it doesn't look like that to me. The female did get a little skittish and displayed stress stripes for a while after being moved to the new tank, but they're fading now, and I've seen her breeding stripes a few times today. Her behaviour has calmed completely.
I apologize for the darkness of the photos. The light is at the back of the tank, but he always stays close to the front when he sees me because he thinks there's food. I can try and take some better ones tomorrow when the room is lighter.
I'm just really confused by this. I don't think it's fin nipping, and I don't think it's just some sudden disease or anything, either. His fins were totally fine this morning. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Questions are welcome. Thank you.
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