fin rot on betta?

[shynepo3]

So recently, i disturbed the filter of 5 gallon tank, with a single betta. A bunch of debris started flying everywhere, mostly brown and white, i suspect most of it was debris from the Indian Almond leaves that i would put in his tank.

Since then, his fins have started to show fin rot, i think. Especially the one on top of his body, it's shrinking to nothing...pics will be shown below.

I re-cently started putting api salt, along with some bettafix, but not too much. i put in a new ial inside, and i have some tetra blackwater extract.

what should I do? should i just do daily or bi-daily water changes of 50%, along with the salt and betta fix? some ppl say not to use betta fix..i dont know...

tbh, this is my first fish. i never had fish growing up, except for a goldfish that died when i was like 6, and now that i have kids, they wanted a pet, so we started with this...although this feels like my bet.

pls help...

 

[dkpate]

Yeah, he's got some rot and curling.
What is the tank size? Water changing schedule? How much of the water do you change each time? Do you use dechlorinator? Do you have a heater in the tank? What is the temperature? How long has the tank been set up? How long have you had the fish? Do you know what the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings are?

 

[allaboutfish]

rasing the temp will also help him heal. get it to 86 SLOWLY

 

[shynepo3]

It's a 5'gallon tank,'that has a regular temp of 80. Cycled tank with readings of 0 for amm and nitrites, and 5ppm of nitrates. Usually 50 percent of pwc, every week.

Is 86 not too high?

Also, I recently last night decided to change his grAvel and clean his tank. I kept the filter and hob in tank water,'to ensure it remains cycled. Today, after 12 hrs, reAdings are now 0,0 and 2.5 nitatres.

I put API salt only 1 teaspoon for whole 5'gal and 5pm of tetra bwe and 1 ial. Should I do daily pwc and replenish API salt and bwe?

 

[allaboutfish]

86 is definently not too high. i kept mine at 89 and really the salt and heat will fix it dont add more chemicals and just keep nitrates below 5 or 10

 

[shynepo3]

ok great..i've moved the temp up slightly, and it's now showing at 82..i'll move it up again later tonight or tomm mor.

 

[allaboutfish]

then your set good luck

 

[dkpate]

I personally wouldn't raise the temp any higher than 82*, just my opinion though.
What is your water changing schedule? How much of the water do you change each time?
Also, don't use salt for more than 10 days, as it can cause kidney failure in bettas.

 

[allaboutfish]

86 degrees is best though it helps them heal faster

 

[shynepo3]

I personally wouldn't raise the temp any higher than 82*, just my opinion though.
What is your water changing schedule? How much of the water do you change each time?
Also, don't use salt for more than 10 days, as it can cause kidney failure in bettas.

I change 50% once a week. But right now I'm gonna do 50 every 2 days with 1 teaspoon of salt. I'll b doing this for about a week and hooey my he'll be good to go

 

[TonyDanza]

Trying using BettaFix it's an all natural liquid you add on a daily basis for about a week and you should start seeing results soon. Good luck

 

[allaboutfish]

bettafix isnt very good with bettas neither is malafix

 

[shynepo3]

seems like everyone is divided on bettafix...i used it, but only about twice, and since i replaced the gravel and cleaned the tank, i haven't...i'm going to try salt, and see what happens..if it does't show any improvement, then i'll move onto medication such as bettafix

 

[dkpate]

The reason people say it's bad is because the labrinth organ doesn't go well with aloe or oil products.
Also, Bettafix is exactly the same as Melafix, it's just a lower dose for bettas.

 

[shynepo3]

The reason people say it's bad is because the labrinth organ doesn't go well with aloe or oil products.
Also, Bettafix is exactly the same as Melafix, it's just a lower dose for bettas.

makes sense...i'll probaby stay away from it...i was told on another forum to try Maracyn I or II, API's Triple Sulfa or Furan-2 or Tetracycline. Any experience with those?

btw, how long does it take fin rot to show some improvement?

 

[allaboutfish]

id stick with salt and heat before adding chemicals. if it gets worse then add chemicals.

 

[shynepo3]

id stick with salt and heat before adding chemicals. if it gets worse then add chemicals.

ok...but if no improvement, but not worse, still keep with only the salt and heat?

 

[allaboutfish]

there should be impovement. just keep your water in good conditions and keep the temp up and he'll improve in no time IMO

 

[dkpate]

Make sure you don't use the salt for more than 10 days.
Clean water is the best medicine!
You should start seeing regrowth in a few days, it will be clear around the frayed edges, then the betta color will come in.

 

[shynepo3]

Great, hops it happens soon. Moved him into his newly cycled 10 gal.