The betta fish is currently the second most popular species of fish within the fish keeping hobby and the only fish that beats it is the trusty goldfish.
Due to their massive popularity, we always see people asking questions about keeping a pet betta fish but more recently, the demand for bettas seems to have specifically shifted to the crowntail betta as their sales are surging right now.
You can probably guess, with the popularity of the crowntail betta sky rocketing right now, the number of questions that we have seen people asking has also been increasing.
The unique shape of the fins and tail of a crowntail betta can make it a little more challanging to keep so we understand why so many people are reaching out to ask various questions about keeping the species.
One question that gets asked time and time again is based around a crowntail bettas fins curling and due to the unique shape of the fins, our general article on betta fish fin curling does not fully apply.
Due to this, we wanted to publish this dedicated article going over how you can stop your crowntail bettas fins curling to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
What Is A Crowntail Betta Fish?
The crowntail betta fish is a sub-species of the betta fish and was originally created through years of selective breeding.
Selective breeding is a process where breeders will take two fish with desired traits and then breed them together in order to produce offspring that have those same desired traits.
In the case of the crowntail betta, the breeders were looking to create a fish that had an increased number of rays within the fins which would in turn make the fins look more jagged.
The process took many years but eventually, they were able to produce what we now know as the crowntail betta.
Crowntail bettas are now one of the most popular betta fish sub-species and are commonly kept as pets by fish keepers all over the world.
The crowntail bettas popularity is largely due to their unique appearance as they really do stand out from other fish within the hobby.
Crowntail bettas are easily recognizable thanks to their long and flowing fins that are covered in small spikes which give them a jagged look.
Their fins are so long that they often times end up curling back around and touching their bodies.
The spikes on the crowntail bettas fins are actually called rays and the more rays that a fish has, the more jagged their fins will appear.
Is It Normal For A Crowntail Bettas Fins To Curl?
The answer to this question is both yes and no as it depends on the situation.
If your crowntail bettas fins are curling and they have always been like that, then it is probably nothing to worry about as it is likely just the way that their fins are.
Crowntail bettas fins are very long and thin which makes them susceptible to curling and this is perfectly normal.
However, if your crowntail bettas fins have never been like that and they have suddenly started curling, then it is not normal and you should take a closer look at your fish to see what might be causing it.
What Causes A Crowntail Bettas Fins To Start Curling?
There are a few different things that could be causing your crowntail bettas fins to curl and we will cover those in more detail below.
Fins Curling Due To Age
One of the most common reasons why a crowntail bettas fins might start curling is due to age.
As your crowtail betta gets older, their fins will start to become longer and thinner which makes them more susceptible to curling.
This is perfectly normal and is nothing to worry about as your fish is just getting older.
Fins Curling Due To Poor Water Quality
Another common reason for fins curling is due to poor water quality.
If the water that your crowtail betta is living in is not clean and has a high ammonia or nitrite level, it can cause their fins to start curling.
This is because the ammonia and nitrite are poisonous to fish and can cause a lot of stress which can lead to fins curling.
Fins Curling Due To Stress
Stress is another common reason for fins curling in crowtail bettas as well as other types of fish.
There are a lot of different things that can cause stress in fish such as living in a dirty tank, not having enough hiding places, or being bullied by other fish.
When a fish is stressed, it can lead to a lot of different health problems one of which is fins curling.
Fins Curling Due To Poor Diet
A poor diet is another common reason for fins curling in crowtail bettas.
If your fish is not getting enough of the right nutrients in their diet, it can cause a lot of different health problems one of which is fins curling.
A good quality diet is very important for all fish, but especially for bettas as they are very sensitive to dietary deficiencies.
Fins Curling Due To Disease
Lastly, fins curling can also be a symptom of disease.
If your crowtail betta is sick, it can cause their fins to start curling as well as a lot of other health problems.
Thus, if your fish has suddenly started to curl their fins and they are showing other signs of illness, it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible.
How To Prevent Fins Curling In Crowtail Bettas?
There are a few different things that you can do to prevent your crowtail bettas fins from curling which we will cover in more detail below.
Provide Clean And Clear Water
One of the most important things that you can do to prevent fins curling is to provide your crowtail betta with clean and clear water.
It is very important to do regular water changes and to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels in the water low as these are poisonous to fish and can cause a lot of stress.
A good rule of thumb is to do a water change of at least 25% once a week.
Provide Plenty Of Hiding Places
Another thing that you can do to prevent fins curling is to provide plenty of hiding places for your fish.
When fish are stressed, it can lead to a lot of different health problems one of which is fins curling.
Thus, by providing plenty of hiding places for your fish, you can help to reduce their stress levels and keep them healthy.
Provide A High Quality Diet
A high quality diet is also very important for preventing fins curling in crowtail bettas.
If your fish is not getting enough of the right nutrients in their diet, it can cause a lot of different health problems one of which is fins curling.
Thus, it is important to feed your crowtail betta a high quality diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals.
Some good foods to feed them include frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia.
Conclusion
Fins curling is a common problem in crowtail bettas and can be caused by a number of different factors such as poor water quality, stress, poor diet, or disease.
There are a few different things that you can do to prevent your crowtail betta’s fins from curling which we have covered in more detail above.
If you think that your fish has fins curling, it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible so that they can be treated.
