My betta...

[Amethyst]

When I came back from vacation, my betta (siamese fighting fish) Houshu had a large chunk missing from his tail. He's the only fish in his tank, which has no sharp objects in it. I can't find the missing chunk in the tank, which probably means it gradually rotted off.

Does anyone know what I can do about this?

[Callie]

I'm not too sure....my aunt said her Betta fish was missing pieces of it's fins after seeing mine...you could try a google or msn search on it.

[Kitten Medli]

Oh goodness..I dont know how to help,I just hope he is alright!

[ahoteinrun]

It could be that theres a fungus or something on your Betta.
How long have you owned him? How big is his tank? Bettas, although they're small, and commonly kept in small tanks should at least be kept in something thats two gallons (bare minimum).
Does your betta have any white spots, or other marks on him?

[Callie]

That reminds me...I better clean my betta's bowl good tomorrow....Francis's feeder bands or squalls are supposed to hit tomorrow night :cringe: and we're having people come...so thanks for the reminder!

[smudgeoffudge]

You can try going to sites about Betta fish and seeing if they have any information or emailing them yourself. I found one for you that may help:

http://www.bettadreams.com

[Sapphire Faerie]

You can try going to sites about Betta fish and seeing if they have any information or emailing them yourself. I found one for you that may help:

http://www.bettadreams.com

Excellent site, and I found the specific page on it that may help:
http://www.bettadreams.com/diseases.html#rot

http://www.bettatalk.com/ is also a great site. I'm planning on getting a betta soon.

http://www.bettatalk.com/betta_diseases.htm
Scroll down a bit to the section on tail rot (about a quarter of the way down)

Because you were gone, the normal care for your fish was altered slightly, which may have caused the problem.

[Christopher]

Oo! Thats terrible, from Sapphire Faeries sites it sounds like Fintail rot...you should enlarge your bettas tank and change the water more often.

[Chaud]

That's terrible, and sick! Try http://www.bettadreams.com/diseases.html#rot

[Christopher]

:o That's terrible, and sick! Try http://www.bettadreams.com/diseases.html#rot

*Prods with stick*

Thats the first site of Sapphire Faeries list...

[smudgeoffudge]

I always put spring water in my betta's tank, not the expensive stuff, but just a big jug of the cheap stuff. The betta lived for two years and one day it just..dead. I guess it was just it's time to die. I haven't gotten another yet, but I have a cat now.

[shapu]

Sounds like finrot to me. It's a fungal infection that can be easily treated with medicines from any half-decent pet store. Just tell the employee what you're looking for.

[Amethyst]

His tank is 2.5 gallons, and I change half the water every two weeks. I've had him for a couple months, and he doesn't have any spots.

Thanks for the sites, Sapphire Faerie

EDIT: I just completely changed his water, and he looks much happier. Well, as happy as a fish can look anyway...

[Sapphire Faerie]

You may want to try doing full-water changes more often. I'd say, half-water changes every two weeks, and a full water change every 2 months, at the bare minimum. Try to do half/full changes even more often.