I know whats wrong now (help)

Question
QUESTION: Ok, this is a follow up response, I know what's happened to my Betta now.
The red that I found HAD TO BE blood. I took a close look at him and saw that his tail is coming apart and nearly ripped to shreds...
It's not tail rot, because it's not staking white, and the mangled tail just recently happened a day ago... Does tail rot take time to form?
Also, How will I fix his injury?
I read that aquarium salt, and a heater is good to help heal it, anything else?
Will it become infected?

Also, His slim coat is forming again! I'm so happy!
Thank you.

ANSWER: Jasmine,

What did you have in the tank that would have "mangled" his tail, and why is it that you just noticed it. I can tell you that I have had Betta's rip tails and never has it bled. I do not understand what you mean by not being FIN rot because it is not staking white? The heater has nothing to do with the healing of any injury or illness. A heater is something he NEEDS ALL THE TIME. Yes aquarium salt will help but if you do not test the water weekly and do the weekly water changes, nothing will help him. What are your readings? How much ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are in his water? That is what causes fin rot.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have a high powered filter... that his tail seemed to have gotten injured by.
I take good care of him. I can show you a tank picture if you want. I change his water every 4-5 days. And I didn't know the test was necessary since I was using spring water... I used tap water once and that was two days ago. I am buying a heater and aquarium salt tomorrow. The mangled tail wasn't noticed until today because his injury seemed to have happened last night."Staking" I meant streaking, soy about that.
I would like to know hat to do about the injury. Also I will not use the filter again, it maybe too powerful.

Thank you so much again.

Answer
Jasmine,

Ok. Lets start over. The injury happened before you came to me with your original question, yes? As for the filter, they are made so that they do not injure fish.. I do not know what kind of filter you have or how it could have injured his tail. I have been breeding Betta's for quite a long time and I have yet to see one get even remotely close to a filter. They do not like them nor do they need them. Because the Betta has the long flowing tail and fins, he is a very slow swimmer. If the filter is as strong as you say I can guarantee you he could not have gotten close enough for the filer to injure him. The best water for him is your tap water with a good conditioner. Bottled water has minerals removed that your fish needs. I hope you are not changing all the water every 4-5 days. If you are, where are you putting him during this time. Even though you are using spring water you still have to test it. He is swimming in that water and his waste is in the water. Ammonia, needs to be at zero at all times. Nitrites need to be at zero at all ties. Nitrates can be no higher than 20ppm at all times. That is what I meant when I said his water is toxic. I still will have to say that the pink tinge in the water was not an injury or the thermometer but the new plastic decoration you placed in his tank. As I mentioned before plastic is toxic to fish and if the store is selling plastic decorations I would find a different store to shop in.