Betas fins

Question
Hello,
My son has had a beta fish for about 8 months.  We change his water every week using dechlorinated water the of the same temperature.  The fish seems OK but I'm not sure.  His fins are fraying.  What's wrong with him?  My son is pretty attached to the fish & I've been trying to prepare him for the fact that he might be dying.  This is his second beta. When to first one died he was very upset...I mean really...we had to bury him in the back yard & have a little fish funeral & he "visited " the fish for a good while afterwards.  It tortured me to see that & I don't want to do it again any time soon.  Can this fish be saved?

Answer
Dear Jennifer,
There is likely nothing wrong with your beloved betta. Bettas are well-known for having fraying fins on occasion. This can result from simply a lot of exercise with the betta flaring and 'dancing' about the tank he is in. Frayed fins can also be the result of any ornaments or even plastic plants that can snag a betta's fins if they catch on it. Try to make sure all his decorations are smooth and it's really best to have only live or silk aquarium plants which are much nicer on a betta's fins.
Bettas can also be the so-called "Tail biters" where they spot their own tail and decide to nip it either out of curiousity or aggression. It is said that tail-biters can be helped by being sure to always offer plenty of variety in their diet (Good quality staple flake food, supplemented frequently with frozen red worms, brine shrimp as well as freeze dried foods) and I have found that daily exercise and an stimulating enviroment helps bettas not become tail-biters. You can easily exercise your betta by taping a hand-held mirror to the front or side of his tank for 10 minutes or so. Or just hold it in front of him while he swims about and displays to his reflection.

Besides that, fin fraying is typically quite harmless and the fins will regrow back with time. One note- make sure it isn't fin rot. But this can usually easily be differentiated from fraying by a red or black edge to the affected fin and the fins themselves seem to be "melting away" evenly.

I really hope this helps!

It was quite touching to read how your son reacted to the first betta's passing. I have to admit it's hard on me at the times when I lose one of my fish. It's difficult, they are really special creatures and I feel they deserve a proper burial just like any other beloved animal.

Only my very best wishes,
Karen~