Will our betta survive after losing a fin?

Question

We've had a betta fish for about a month and a half now. He seems to have been doing great until earlier this evening. He is in a one-gallon, filtered tank that is supposedly made especially for bettas. Well, my husband went in to feed him a while ago and couldn't see him anywhere in the tank. So when he opened the lid, the fish seemed to shoot out of the filter, like he had been caught in it. Now, it appears that one of his front fins is missing, and he is staying close to the bottom of the tank. It's clearly taking a lot of effort for him to swim up to the top, and he's not really trying much, but he does seem to want to get to his food.

So here are my questions:
1. Is it normal for him to stay at the bottom soon after a traumatic experience like this? It makes sense to me that it would take him some time to get over the shock and to adjust to having only one fin.
2. Will he survive, or is he likely to die? Anything specific we can do to help him out?

Thanks!

So here are my questions:
1. Is it normal for him to stay at the bottom soon after a traumatic experience like this? It makes sense to me that it would take him some time to get over the shock and to adjust to having only one fin.
2. Will he survive, or is he likely to die? Anything specific we can do to help him out?

Thanks!

Ren · Accepted Answer

1. Not always unless there's a second underlying reason. I've had a betta just recently that came from really horrible conditions and was full of parasites. The moment I got rid of those he was swimming around the tank and alert. Shy but curious and he wasn't hiding under everything anymore. Usually they perk right up when they're better. If he has long fins (i.e. is a halfmoon or veiltail) and since you mentioned he shot out from the filter, the filter might be too strong for him. They aren't the best swimmers. Here are some good tips:
baffling the flow:
http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=30139
and for the filter input (where it draws in water) you can use any porous filter sponge like this:
http://lghttp.30510.nexcesscdn.net/80C676/ca/media/catalog/product/6/6/66804.jpg
And place it over where it draws in the water so your betta's fins don't get caught. This happens quite frequently when the filter is too strong and they become exhausted to the point where they just give up and get sucked in. This might be why he can't swim up. Betta come from really still water and don't do well with strong filters.
2. I find the best cure for fin regrowth in betta is no treatment and just warm and stable (I usually keep at 80 Fahrenheit) super clean water. I've taken in betta that had literally no fin at all and they grew back fine. If he's not sick then I don't see any reason he can't make it :). 
Though if the filter isn't fully cycled yet, I would keep it turned off and just maintain the water clean and aerated with an air stone with the flow on low (you can use a binder clip on air line tubing to cut the flow) until he heals just to make sure he's not exposed to any ammonia or nitrites at all.

BettaFan · Answer

try adding aquarium salt (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) to prevent any infection and strengthen the immune system. a 25% water change and temperature of 80 degrees will also help.

http://bettacare101.com/diseases

Will our betta survive after losing a fin?

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