I noticed my fish's tail was starting to look very ragged suddenly. Just 3 days ago I was thinking how long and colorful it was getting. Then yesterday it looked awful and this morning I saw what happened. He chases his tail and a furious fit and bites a big chunk off and eats it!!!! It's not like he's starving. I feed him a couple pellets a day and he eats them just fine. (If I feed him more it aggravates his swim bladder and he starts floating.) Other than that, he seems just fine. Very active, actually. Blowing bubbles around the top. But more aggressive than normal. His water is changed regularly and everything. Why would he be doing this? I've had him almost 2 years. I don't want him to hurt himself!
My Fish is Eating Himself?!
- Thread starter IkkyFish
- Start date
I had one that used to do that too, but he died 
(sorry, that's not encouraging). Yeah, it may be that his space is too small, or perhaps you just got a crazy fish. How long have you had it? Have you had it a while and it just started this behavior? If his fin is getting torn up, through in something so it doesn't get infected and can help heal it up.
(sorry, that's not encouraging). Yeah, it may be that his space is too small, or perhaps you just got a crazy fish. How long have you had it? Have you had it a while and it just started this behavior? If his fin is getting torn up, through in something so it doesn't get infected and can help heal it up.I've had him almost 2 years, in the same bowl. I think he's a prima-donna. I moved back home and put him next to my sister's hermit crabs and he kept flaring up at them and jumped out of his bowl. He recovered (and I made a custom net to cover the bowl), then a few months later I moved 1200 miles away and brought him along on the ride, and he developed some kinda swim bladder problem. Now he's doing this. What I don't understand, is he really likes his food. I love my fish! Might he just be getting old? I've had him almost 2 years.
Bettas seem to be quite tempermental. My gfs betta used to get really upset when u would move things around his tank. Maybe a change in his diet would help somehow. I know how u feal being very attached to him. My gf was very upset when her betta died a few months ago. He really grew on me too. Don't give up and good luck.
precious may be right, it could be that he has fin rot (or some other kind of infection) and when he is biting he might actually trying to "itch"
or like some of the others said he could be just getting flaky because of all the recent changes or hes not happy being in such a small space
either way it would do him good to have a bigger tank, how big is the bowl? personally i wouldnt keep a betta in a tank less than 2gal
for his health and happiness, the more water and space the better imo
--liz
or like some of the others said he could be just getting flaky because of all the recent changes or hes not happy being in such a small space
either way it would do him good to have a bigger tank, how big is the bowl? personally i wouldnt keep a betta in a tank less than 2gal
for his health and happiness, the more water and space the better imo
--liz
Thanks for all the advice. I think he was stressed out because he finally stopped biting himself and I have been treating him with fin rot medicine since the whole tail foray began. It could have been fin rot, but he just got over that a few weeks ago and was looking quite handsome and all this started. But he's always been in the same tank, a 1.5 gal. He's only had problems since I've started moving. I love my betta. His name is Icarus, but I call him Ikky. I try to give him the best home possible, it's just weird when he's so sensitive.
You say he just had fin rot recently? Maybe he ripped/bit his fins and it came back. Or it came back on its own. Fin Rot is usually caused by poor water conditions, so you might want to treat his water with Stress Coat for a while when you change it to build up his immune system, and change his water once a week. Do you have salt? I would put 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of Stress Coat, and then your fin rot medicine (what brand are you using?) and mix it in dechlorinated water (as if you didn't know, lol) and use that in his bowl next time you change it. Good Luck and keep is updated. (I HIGHLY RECCOMMED SALT AND STRESS COAT! )
Alexa
P.S. you can add the salt and Stress Coat even when he is healthy, I always do, and just use the fin rot meds until he gets better. When his fins show regeneration (the ends turn clear or white, instead of black and ripped), I think it is time to stop medicating. But I have not had experience with fin rot, so I am not sure.
Alexa
P.S. you can add the salt and Stress Coat even when he is healthy, I always do, and just use the fin rot meds until he gets better. When his fins show regeneration (the ends turn clear or white, instead of black and ripped), I think it is time to stop medicating. But I have not had experience with fin rot, so I am not sure.
I haven't even thought about salt. What a great idea, Alexa. See, I'm not for sure he had fin rot actually. What happened was I bought him a new plant and somehow he ripped his tail on it. So I bought him some BettaFix with Melaleuca in it and he healed up marvelously and looked like a new man. Then the biting started so I started with the BettaFix again, it heals almost any tail problems very fast. I use bottled water (not distilled). But he's slowed on the biting, is eating well, and he looks like he's healing. But he's still more pissed off than normal. He'll jump out of the bowl and bite me more often than he used to. I was wondering something today, do bettas go through a time when they're ready to breed? Maybe he's got some male aggressive/self-destructive thing going on.
it could be dementia caused by old age. some bettas in stores are alot older than one would expect. more than likely it is dementia that gets worse in the warmer months, as it is breeding season and he thinks his own tail is a rival.
sory to say it, but from my extensive breeding and betta keeping experience, i say he's got tops another year, i am sorry.
sory to say it, but from my extensive breeding and betta keeping experience, i say he's got tops another year, i am sorry.
Bettas often bite their fins when they are stressed out. Usually after they have been sick. I experienced this after my bettas had fungus. Use some meds to help prevent infection and make sure the rot doesn't come back. Try some melafix after that to help new growth. And I think bettamax may perk him up, but don't mix meds!!
