Betta splendon problem

Question
Hey lynda,
clinton here , i previously asked you questions about how to get rid of the ich from my flowerhorn nd promised that i would keep you updated with the progress
The ich's all gonee nd he's doing perfectly allright
thank you once againn , i've never been able to save a fish from ich and thanks to you lynda i've pushed right through :-)
Anyways i've been faced with another problem , i've jus brought a betta spendon hving beautifull colour , i used to keep betta's lucky bamboo bowl with the lucky bamboo in it and dey are doing soo much fine , But tried putting it into a tank its fins lenghts jus dropped down and looked as if it just had a fight in just a days time
Is this normal since the environment is differenttt , because he's perfectly allright but just it looks odd with the fins lenght just cut into half

yours sincerely ,
clinton d'silva

Answer
Hi Clinton,
I'm so happy that your Flowerhorn pulled through, and that he is well now.
Poor Betta!  Did you check your water to make sure that you have no ammonia, or nitrates in it.  Fin rot is caused by poor water quality, stress, cool water, and sometimes poor diet.  He was surely stressed by the change of environment.   Change all the water, and wash everything in your tank, rocks, pebbles etc.  Never use soap, just wash it well with hot water.  You will have to medicate him, as quickly as possible.  He will need a good antibiotic, such as tetracycline.  There are many medications to cure Fin Rot at the Pet Store.  Jungle Fungus Elimintor is one of them, and many Bettas have been cured with this medication, and Tetracycline.  Add diluted aquarium salt to his water, one teaspoon to five gallons of water.  Salt helps with stress.
Hopefully he should pull through.

Here is some information on Bettas that might help you understand him better:

Bettas need 5 gallons of water to be healthy, and happy.
In their habitat the betta may live in shallow waters, but they have lots of room to swim.  
Keeping Bettas in small bowls, containers, vases etc, is cruel.  The Betta is one of the most mistreated fish on the market.
They need a heated tank.  Temperature should be 78-80 degrees.  They are tropical fish, and are cold under this temperature.  Cold bettas get sick, are miserable, and live unhappy lives. ( Always remember  when heating a tank, do this very very slowly..1 (one) degree every two days, as bringing up the temperature too fast would kill your Betta.)  The temperature should always be stable.  Fluctuating temperature is very bad for bettas, and any other fish.  
They should have a silk plant in their tanks, so that they can rest on the leaves  They also need a little tunnel or some knick knack that they can go through.   One teaspoon to five gallons of diluted aquarium salt may be added to his water, when a Betta is well.  
Aquarium salt helps them with stress, and helps with parasites.  However if a Betta is showing signs of a swollen tummy, salt should not be used.
They need a varied diet. This is very important.  Betta pellets one day, Betta Flakes the next, Daphnia the next, and bloodworms should be given once a week as a treat.
He should be given one well cooked frozen cooked pea a week, and on the day you give him the pea, he should fast.    
A betta is prone to constipation, and constipation leads to Swim Bladder Disease.  A frozen cooked pea a week keeps them from getting constipated.  Always remove the outer layer of the pea, and cut it into small pieces feeding it to your betta one piece at a time.
They should have 2-3 small meals a day, and not one big meal.  We must remember that their tummy is the size of their eye.
Example:  2 pellets for one meal.
Water changes are very important.  Water changes must be made every week without fail with a good water conditioner such as Aqua Safe or Stress Coat.  There is also a conditioner made especially for bettas.  If you do not have a filter, change all the water in his tank weekly.
Never put two bettas in the same tank, they will kill each other...male or female.  The Betta male is a loner.  Females can be kept together in a big enough tank, but they are also aggressive towards each other, and the tank should be at least 30 gallons with many hiding places.
When treated well, a betta can live up to 8 years, if you buy him when he is very young.  (Unfortunately we do not know their age when we buy them at the Pet Store which is why some bettas die two or three years after we have bought them.)
He's an intelligent little fish, and should be treated with kindness.
Too many vendors know nothing about the betta, and don't care...so don't give good information on how to keep them.
They are there to sell, and will say anything just to make a buck.  They send you home with your bought betta, telling you a small bowl is perfect, and bloodworms!  The poor customer thinks he has everything he/she needs, and then the fish gets sick, money is spent to cure him, and eventually the fish dies.   
This turns my stomach over.  Unfortunately there are no laws to protect fish.  
Bettas kept in small bowls, one gallon tanks, and vases, will get sick, and are very hard to cure in such little water.  They end up dieing, and
that hurts the person who has grown so attached to them.  They don't deserve to be treated this way.
This is how a Betta should be treated.  If treated this way, you will have your friend for a long long time.  I have bred them, love them, and know what is good for them.
If you have anymore questions, do not hesitate to write me.
Lynda