Is this fin rot?

[jlbfish]

My fish has been sick for a while (since November) I have tried antibiotic treatments, anti fungal, aquarium salt and anti parasitic over the last 5 mos I prefer not to do anything else. He might have slight popeye and slight pineconing but no dropsy. He has had a swim bladder issue that fasting and peas have not fixed. My water parameters are fine. I think he is just gradually coming to the end of his life so at this point I am in hospice mode. Keeping his tank clean and feeding etc....

I just noticed on his bottom fin a visible line and disintegration below the line. 'maybe' a fuzz but it is hard to tell. I can up the water changes to 2x per week or more if necessary but the parameters are fine (ammonia/nitrites 0, nitrates between 0-5 and his temp is 80). It is a filtered 5 gallon tank.

Any ideas are helpful but do not want to stress him out of cause any internal damage to become worse. Thanks all!

The damage on his tail has been since I treated in November. The rot there has stopped but hasn't grown back.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Did you have any other fish with the betta, and what is the temperature of your tank?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Also, what size is your tank, and with how many fish?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

This is definitely fin rot, but I need these details so I can give you specific help

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, not overstocked, how long and often do you turn on you led light if you have one

 

[jlbfish]

No. No other fish. Tank is 80 degrees, 5 gallon. LED light runs from about 8am to 11pm.

I think these problems started when I added the Azoo Palm filter but his parameters have been fine. Might just follow my gut and get a different filter.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Yes, here is your problem
Fin rot is caused by a bacteria that normally lives with betta fish, it can be triggered or more active with stress, or in your case, the led light being turned on for more than 12 hours, giving the bacteria a boost. It is a good thing that the infection has stopped....... But this might not be permanent. You need to go to a store and buy treatment salt( not too expensive) and treat the water according to directions( do not use treatment for more than10 days as this could cause kydney and liver problems, completely change the water, and add the treatment, just for about 8 days. Don't turn on led light at all for about 2 weeks, and just wait for his fin to grow back( might take up to about 8 months according to the severity of the infection. With this, it should be alright, and only turn on led light for about 5-8 hours a day, good luck

 

[jlbfish]

Earlier in treatment I used aquarium salt for 10 days. That was when the swim bladder issue and slight pine coning started to show. I'm afraid my salt usage before could have already caused damage. I'm hesitant to use it again.

Thanks for the information on the lights. I had no idea LED could aid bacteria growth so much.

I will only use lights for water changes. I'm going back to his old filter a sort of back to basics approach. Otherwise I will keep the lights off and watch.

Thanks!

 

[PockX]

Aw, sorry to hear about your betta. If you have tried everything it could just be something internally wrong with it. How old is he? It maybe the filter, but I haven't heard much about filters causing too many problems. From the pic he doesn't look to hot.. I would just suggest lots of water changes and possibly just some salt when you do it too. I don't know too much about bettas..best of luck to you and him!

 

[jlbfish]

I've had him for about 15 mos. he definitely isn't in his glory days I think he was full grown when we got him so ...

Glory Days:



Lol. Poor guy :/. He has been a good desk mate. We will keep trying!

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Ok, it may be fine without the salt, it just avoids further infection and calms down your fish, change the water every 3 days in that case for 2 weeks, then go back to normal, restrict total use of led lights for 2 weeks, and you should be fine from there, just use your led lights less, and your betta should be fine

 

[Mumma.of.two]

Can you explain or supply some information as to why you believe the led light is encouraging bacterial growth on the fish?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Of course, my uncle is a fish specialist, he works as a medical help for fish at sea world, he knows what he is doing, he has over 5 bettas

 

[calfishguy]

Of course, my uncle is a fish specialist, he works as a medical help for fish at sea world, he knows what he is doing, he has over 5 bettas

I still don't understand how that encourages growth. I could see that the light being on for so long could stress the fish thus making it more prone to infection but how does led help the bacteria grow???

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Oh, we'll simple, the more light, the more active the bacteria becomes, thus reproducing more, then being more, its like feeding someone big macs for a year, they won't be very happy, then feed them healthy, nutritious, energizing food, they will become more active and reproducing more, that's the thing, little light, migmacs, more light, good food

 

[PockX]

Oh, we'll simple, the more light, the more active the bacteria becomes, thus reproducing more, then being more, its like feeding someone big macs for a year, they won't be very happy, then feed them healthy, nutritious, energizing food, they will become more active and reproducing more, that's the thing, little light, migmacs, more light, good food

True..but what your betta might have my not be a bacteria. Algae grows in light more than bacteria that will hurt you fish. The light being on for too long can stress and disturb the "normal" daylight pattern, resulting in him attracting these problems. You both are correct though. It's a combination of both.

 

[jlbfish]

Honestly I think he is at the end of his lifespan or has internal damage from when I tried to treat the tail fin rot.

He is slightly pine coned. Has swim bladder. Now more fin rot. Maybe slight pop eye. He is eating and social yet not as active as he has been.

His tank parameters have always been safe and I've been cleaning it once or twice a week. Initially it was every day for a while.

I'm going for low stress. I will keep the lights off and keep cleaning the tank and waiting. Thanks for all the information.

 

[jlbfish]

Update Question

So this morning his poop is floating. I can't find much that could be the specific ause. Does anyone have experience with that?