Betta biting his fins

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I have asked you questions before (10/16 betta fish sick) and I liked your thorough answers. Our betta Barry is acting normal for the most part now. His fins though are another case. I notice he is biting them (the top one) often. Is there something you suggest. our water is good, he has a 10 gallon tank, and lately we just feed him bloodworms because he was constipated. The store owner said just go with bloodworms because the pellets were making him constipated. Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Curtis, (Thank you)
We really do not know the reason why some Bettas bite their tails.  I tend to think that it is because they were kept in small containers too long before we buy them.  Also, when they are shipped to the pet store, these poor fish are shipped in tiny little bags with hardly enough water to cover them, then put into small containers.  The stress of shipment, then into small containers will stress a fish.  I also think that bright lights, or too much light could do this.  Bettas prefer the light of day, and get stressed when lights are on too long.  Bettas who see other bettas will also get stressed, and may bite their tails.  Stress has lots to do with a Betta biting his tail.  Try to see what is stressing him. It could also be something in your tank.  
Bettas who are kept in unheated tanks may also have this reaction.  Under 80 degree water, the betta is cold.  When bringing up the temperature, we must do this very slowly.  Bring it up one degree every two days, if your betta is under 80 degree water.  They are also very comfortable at 82 degrees.  Make sure you do this very slowly, as bringing up the temperature to quickly can be deadly.  
Check you PH.  It should be somewhere around neutral.  I would add Bettafix to his water.
Feeding him bloodworms for constipation will not help.  Feed him a cooked frozen pea with the outer layer removed.  Cut the pea into small pieces, and feed the pieces to your betta one at a time, making sure he eats it, and that it won't fall to the bottom of the tank.  After feeding him the pea, do not feed him anything else.  Wait one day, and if you do not see any waste, feed him a pea again.  If he still does not waste, you will have to treat him with tetracycline.  A betta should have one pea a week, and on the day you feed him the pea, feed him nothing else.  Daphnia should also be part of his diet.  Daphnia is important because it helps his digestive system.  Bloodworms should only be fed once a week as a treat.  Make sure you do not overfeed.  Feed him 2-3 times a day in small amounts.  Two pellets, or 2 flakes for one meal.  Their tummy is the size of their eye so we should never feed them big amounts at one time.
I hope this helps, and that you will find the solution.
Lynda

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

QUESTION:  Hi Lynda,

Our tank is heated to 79 degrees. We have live plants and were told any higher temperature could damage the plants. Our PH is about 7.6. We were told that this is fine since the PH is stable- better to stay stable than to fluctuate. Should we be trying to lower the PH? What is bettafix?

Right now, by the advice from the man who owns the aquarium, we are starting him on antibiotics for 6 days at night and 10 drops of  a medicine called Lifebearer in the morning.

Thanks again for your help!

Curtis

Answer
Hi Curtis,
If his fins are badly damaged, then it would be best to use an antibiotic.  7.6 is a little high for a betta, but if it is stable, then do not try to fix it with chemicals.  Adding driftwood would help bring it down.  
We all have different ways to cure a fish.  The man who owns the aquarium as seen your fish, so maybe he knows what is good for him.  Bettafix is used when a betta has torn fins, open sores, and fin, and tail rot.  It is a natural medicine extracted from Tea Trees.  It is very good to help cure torn fins.    
Life Bearer is a professional strength medication for the treatment of parasites like gill flukes, body flukes and fish lice.  It should never be used on scaleless fish.  Since the man has seen your fish, he must know what is best for him.  I would not want to contradict him.
I hope the little fellow recovers quickly.
Lynda