EMERGENCY!!! QUICK can you use tables salt for a Betta?!?!?

Question

Can you use table salt to help a betta with Finrot??? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Serious answers please, also you can put what could also help finrot

where can I get fresh water aquarium salt? could I just get salt water salt?

Answer 1

No, table salt has iodine added to it. You need to look for some type of kosher sea salt or buy aquarium salt for freshwater fish at a pet store. You add about 1 level tablespoon for every 5 gallons of water

Answer 2

I use about a 4th of a tablespoon of aquarium salt, which i got at walmart. My betta is 3 yrs old and still doing alright! Mine has finrot too and I found a medication for it (also at walmart) by a company called jungle and its made especially for finrot. I would not try table salt. bc it has other minerals in it besides just salt (like iodine)

Answer 3

NO table salt. NO sea salt.

Aquarium salt only!
1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water for therapeutic concentration (full time).
1 tablespoon per 1 gallon water for salt baths (fin rot treatment) - put fish in 15 minutes twice a day; water should be same temp as bettas normal water (heated if necessary).

Can be found at any petstore or in walmart. Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt is less than $2 for a pound; it's in a box that looks like a little milk carton.

regarding "carsch" above - Faith of Bettatalk.com overmedicates her fish. finrot does not require treatment other than salt as long as baths are given regularly. continue giving baths well into recovery for quicker healing time.

Answer 4

Do not use table salt. Aquarium salt is acceptable, but you shouldn't try and use it on finrot. If the rot isn't terribly bad all you need to do is keep the betta's tank in pristine condition, clean water, so clean that you could drink out of it if you had to :). If kept clean he/she should recover quickly.

Answer 5

Table salt contains contaminants like iodine and potassium which are not good for fish. Most pet stores sell aquarium salt which is pure and lacks those contaminants. A good brand is Doc Wellfish's made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. It's pretty inexpensive and comes in a big container.

Bettas can tolerate a small amount of salt in their water and it can reduce the occurrence of fin rot and ich. You can add up to 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water. And as long as you condition your water properly, you don't have to purchase bottled water for your betta. Ordinary tap water will work as long as it is treated with a dechlorinator like Aquasafe. To give the conditioner time to work, let the water sit overnight.

Fin rot can be caused by bacteria or fungus. To clear up both of those, try Jungle Fungus Clear Tank Buddies. It's a tablet like Alka Seltzer that clears up fungus and bacteria pretty fast.

I get most of my betta information from Bettatalk.com. She hasn't failed me yet.

Regarding corin_li below:

Bettatalk is a good site for information on setting up a tank and basic fish care, but she does use more antibiotics than I am comfortable with. That's why I recommended Jungle Fungus clear and not Maracyn or one of the --cillins. The salt bath is a method that I have not personally tried, but many here have had good luck with it in the past.

If you look around the internet for solutions to your problem, you will likely find that there is more than one way to treat a particular problem. Different aquarists prefer different methods and many of them work the same. You should pick the one that fits the circumstances and the resources you have available.

Answer 6

You may use one (1) teaspoon of NON iodized table salt for 5 gallons of water. (Label must say...This salt does NOT contain iodine!) Up until the 1940's, salt was the only medicant available for fish kept in captivity.
DO NOT PURCHASE SALT WATER...
I reiterate...1 tsp of non-iodized table salt per 5 gal of water.

I would also suggest 1/2 dose of penicillin as a precaution against a secondary infection.

However, are you sure it is fin rot? Is your betta alone? All fishes chase fins...another occupant in your tank may be nibbling... If this is the case, add decor (plants).

Good luck.

Answer 7

Bettas get fin rot from dirty water or rocks. There long fins drag on the rocks, collecting loads of bacteria. Fin rot occurs especially with rips and tears in the fins, and bacteria sets in. Adding some salt may be good, but dont add so much it kills the betta. A pinch or two is enofe. Also, your local petstor could have some medicine. But, these dont always work:(. If your betta is in a smaller tank/vase, it will need even more frequent water changes becausethe tank gets dirty quickly. Here is a website that might help: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art22994.asp

Answer 8

Actually, a complete change of water and a filtration system is best. You may add a VERY Small amount of table salt, but should get an antibiotic for fish tanks. Fin rot is a bacterial infection. In a pinch, if you have any amoxaciilin or cefzil capsules you can open one and pour a small amount in the tank. Calvet supply on the web has overnight shipping on these antibiotic products for fish tanks and you will get more than you need for two lifetimes, but it is cheap and quick shipping is available.
You might consider buying a new small tank with a filtration system. I purchased mine at Wal-Mart for $9.99 about five months ago. Also make sure you are using a coating product made for Bettas. I use Betta Plus by Nutrafin. It conditions the water and protects the fins from cuts and nicks. Also, make sure the is nothing that your betta is cutting itself on, smooth marbles of smooth glass beads are the best tank filler for bettas.

Answer 9

No, that would kill him. If you were to go to the pet store or walmart they sell things for finrot also you might want to try a salt for fresh water fish it conditions the water for them.

Answer 10

i dont know what finrot is but beta need fresh water. the kind in bottles. not salt water and not tap water. call a vet if finrot is like a disease or something. good luck!