Tail Is Split

[Flurry]

I just noticed now that my Betta's caudal fin is split, not quite half way up his tail. Is there anything I should do?

Just a little background info: He lives in a one gallon, uncycled tank. I try and do either a 90% or a full water change every four days, but sometimes it slides, but I never let it slide over a week since his last change. I add aquarium salt to his tank after every water change. I feed him Wardly's Betta pellets, Betta Bio-gold pellets, freeze dried red grubs and about once a week he either gets frozen blood worms or frozen brine shrimp. Tank temperature is between 74 and 76 degrees and stable, (I kinda knocked over the lamp that I used to keep his tank nice and toasty) but he will be moving to a 10 gallon tank in two monthes (I'm getting a 10 gallon tank for Christmas which I am planning to cycle.) He has three silk plants and some smooth plastic stones in his tank; nothing for him to shred his tail on.

Thanks =)

[starlight]

Hi Flurry!

He lives in a one gallon, uncycled tank. I try and do either a 90% or a full water change every four days, but sometimes it slides, but I never let it slide over a week since his last change.

I know that most of the time you stay on top of water changes. Unfortunately one gallon of water is just marginal at best for an adult betta. Not all my bettas are in optimal water volume either. I've seen what happens when I try to stretch or miss a water change.

If you step up water changes, the tail split may heal on its own.

Here's what I'd do. I recall that you have gravel in the tank.

(1) 100% water change with Don in cup. Clean tank, gravel and plants thoroughly.
(2) If you have Melafix, add 4 drops per gallon.
(3) Until the fin tear heals...I'd do 50% water changes every other day.
(4) I'd add a drop of Prime or 8 drops of Amquel on the day that you don't do the water change. I'm sure that you could do this with other dechlors but I don't have experience using them. (if you use the one with the aloe vera, I'd have to stop short of dumping that stuff in on alternate days...thats just my opinion)
(5) 74-76 is marginal...set up another lamp or do something to raise temp to 78. The temp is too low and may be stressing him.

Hope this helps.

ps. I forgot what meds you have on hand. lmk

[Flurry]

I'll see what I can do about the lamp, and otherwise, my room is as nice and toasty as it's going to get.

All I have is Maracyn, but I have a coupon for Bettafix. I'll try to up the water changes. He's due for a change tonight.

I use Jungle brand to dechlorinate the tank.

Thanks =)