When a betta fish begins swimming oddly and/or hold its fins in a unique position, you will wonder what’s going on.
The term used for this is clamped fins in fish.
The condition itself refers to the act of holding the fins close to the body while swimming. It is seen in all types of fish including betta fish.
This sight can certainly be upsetting and sometimes you will naturally assume the fish is in trouble. Is this true? To learn the truth, it’s best to ask, why does betta fish have clamped fins?
Betta fish can have clamped fins due to stress. Some fish will react in this manner due to a change in pH levels, reduced water quality, or an underlying infection. It’s best to inspect the fish to see what the underlying cause is.
As soon as you see a betta fish with clamped fins, it’s time to kick into action. This is not something to ignore or hope it will go away on its own.
Here is a look at what to do if a betta fish has clamped fins.
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Tips On How To Treat Clamped Fins In Betta Fish
1. Change the Water Right Away
One of the more common issues with a betta fish clamping its fins has to do with the water quality.
If the water quality has depreciated, the betta fish will begin to act oddly. This can include not eating, refusing to swim in specific parts of the aquarium, and/or clamping its fins.
If you notice a lethargic betta fish with clamped fins then it is likely this problem. The betta fish might not like its environment and is starting to find it difficult to swim around.
When this happens, you are going to want to change the fish tank’s water as soon as possible. It is also smart to look at what caused the drop in water quality to fix the problem for good.
2. Look for an Infection
It is possible to look for a good betta fish clamped fins treatment by assessing a possible infection.
Some betta fish will start clamping their fins as a response to an underlying infection. When this happens, you are going to want to find a clamped fins treatment that is easy to apply and will work immediately.
A good example of this would be adding a tablespoon of aquarium salt per gallon of water in the fish tank.
This should help the betta fish recover from its infection if that is the underlying problem.
3. Feed Small Amounts of Food
During this period, you will want to feed the betta fish with clamped fins a good amount of fish food.
The idea is to keep them healthy and happy in the fish tank. This is not going to happen if you are not careful about what you’re doing.
The goal is to make sure the betta fish doesn’t stop eating. When that happens, it becomes a lot harder to keep the betta fish happy and willing to swim.
Take the time to use quality betta fish food for clamped fins. This will go a long way in appealing to the betta fish and allowing it to open up.
4. Reduce Noise Around The Fish Tank
Some betta fish will get nervous due to external conditions.
This is often something fish tank owners don’t think about. You will naturally assume the problem has to do with something the fish is interacting with such as food or the water. While this is possible, there are external issues that can arise.
Sound is one of them.
If it is too loud around the fish tank, those vibrations are going to shake the fish tank. The betta fish will feel those vibrations and become nervous.
This can lead to the betta fish clamping its fins.
Final Thoughts
Why does betta fish have clamped fins?
Betta fish can have clamped fins due to stress. This is caused by specific triggers in their environment such as poor water quality, infection, lack of food, predators, and/or external sound that is making them uncomfortable.
It’s important to get to the root cause of a betta fish’s clamped fins before the condition worsens. This is especially true if there is an underlying infection at play.
Take the time to assess what is going on with the betta fish and begin working on a clamped fins treatment.
This can include something as simple as moving the fish tank, changing the water, or adding aquarium salt to treat the infection.
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