I am trying to make a long story short here. Was in the local pet shop yesterday. Spotted a completely battered Siamese Fighter in a tiny tank with some Gouramies.
He was on the ground, hiding beside the filter, but they kept nipping him and chasing him. I pointed it out and he got moved into the only other available tank. Guess what was in it...Angels. I was afraid they would do their best to finish him off, so on short notice I bought him.
Had a 30 liter cycled tank ready which was intended as 2nd guppy fry tank. Was still empty tho, so no big deal.
I was not sure he would make it trough the night as he looks pretty bad, his fins hardly there, but he did.
Any idea what I can do to try and help him heal ? I really want him to get better again.

some melafix or esha2000 and tlc. there is not a lot to do except avoid anything that will cause infections etc. these fish tend to recover quite quickly when given the proper environment.

for now avoiding stress is key so small regular water changes, good food sparingly(little and often).

thanks for giving me some hope and advice.
will get some Melafix tomorrow.
here is the poor lad

Mickeys right Melafix should sort him out, that and a little tlc, why do some stores do this, do they not know their stock and compatibility of species, places like this give the good lfs a bad name and should be avoided

I think your 'newcomer' highlights the advice I often give and that is that male Bettas are not a community fish!
They just are not suited to the 'rough and tumble' of that lifestyle.
I think this fish will be fine though - one thing I have noticed with modern-day male Bettas is that when they have suffered such a mauling and their fins are in tatters like this one's are they very rarely fully grow back to their original glory.

But well done you for rescuing him and I wish you good fortune with him - and hope the finnage returns to most of how it was before.

John

ps, If you can manage to give him some live food that will help no end, I've found they love whiteworms...but even if you can hatch some BrineShrimps and put some in twice a day that would be good, I don't think it's the nutritional value (which for an adult fish must be minimal) but the fact that it's alive which does the trick, they seem to almost get a 'new lease of life' by hunting them down to eat them.

will try and get my hands on some life food for him. I am not a great liker of worms, but if its good for him it is my duty to do it.
I dont expect the fins the fully regrow, as long as he gets his quality of life back and his confidence up, that is all what matters.
regarding the pet shop, I so hear what you say. But as said before, I just could not leave him there.
In a different pet shop a few weeks ago I spotted 1 Male, 2 females, 4 Bristlenose and 3 Platy's in ONE 25cm wide tank. The male was chasing the females like made, but the shop assistant said they were fine and would not move any of them.
Came back the weekend after and found a female stuck in the sand behind the one plant in the tank.
God help the fish in theses places.

one story we here all to often, but with small steps like new laws in Switzerland and people getting advice on on this forum things change. it is all about education.

there are many problem out there suppliers, staff turn over and training i would consider a major problem.

but things will change slowly as always.

pointing out mistakes is the first step. and supporting the LFS that do things right.

Mickey