Tattered Betta

[UWShorty85]

I've had my betta for two years now, with next to no problems, other than the occasional fin rot which clears up right away with treatment. However, lately my poor betta's tail and even his other fins are looking torn and tattered, but not nipped on. I have driftwood and some live plants in my tank, no plastic plants, but my betta likes to rest on the heater and the plastic bracket holding it to the side of the tank. I have not noticed any fin nipping going on in my tank, but I have two silver hatchet tetras, a shy platty, three miniscule black molly babies (not even half inch long), some african dwarf frogs, a rubbler lipped pleco (about two inches long so far), a snail, and a couple ghost shrimp. All ammonia/nitrate/nitrite/pH levels are good, but I have no idea what to do for Stewart (the betta). I pulled him out today and put him into a 2.5 gallon tank with some mela fix in it, and no rocks/decorations. Does anybody have any idea what could be causing this to happen to my betta, and how to make it better? I've grown really attached to him, so it makes me really sad to see him all tattered.

[Dangerdoll]

hmmmmm...... have you thought about the frog?

[UWShorty85]

I've been keeping frogs in with my betta for nearly a year, and have not noticed the frogs paying the betta any special attention.

[wataugachicken]

i've noticed that over time the plastic bracket (is it a suction cup?) gets a little loose and doesn't fit the curve of the heater exactly. possibly the betta sits on it and then gets his fins stuck between the bracket and heater?

[Dangerdoll]

that's very possible because that's his place to hang out.... I would vote for that but also keep an eye on the frog. Not that he's necessarily nipping, but maybe clipping the fins with his feet when rising to the top for air.

[VTwinFanatic]

I seriously doubt the ADF is the culprite. I think that the heater clamps are the reason for this...

[jaylin]

Your theory sounds good. Bettas fins are delicate and they are even more so as they age.

Which, at two years, it's possible your seeing some signs of age too. It's so hard to know how old a pet shop betta is.