What should I do...my Betta has FIN ROT?!?

Question

I have have Merlin for just over two months now, and love him dearly. The only problem is, he ripped his tail on a plastic plant(now removed). It started to heal gradually, but weeks later I had to go on a two week vacation. I left him (and my 2 danios) with a food block(lasted them easily) but when I got back, his fins were slightly red-streaked(not majorly) and has torn and ripped abit more,although not to 1/3 or 1/2 of the way in. They seem to have just a small bit of white at the tips, and the only other fin affected is the top one (the main one is the back-tail fin). I live in England, and don't yet have a hospital/quarantine tank. WHAT SHOULD I DO??? I love him loads, and don't want him to die as he is my first betta. Please help him/me! P.S He still eats, and swims around, we have removed the plstic plant and replaced it with a silk plant, and the danios don't nip him....Thank you for reading, and I hope you can reply soon....

Leonie and Merlin(the poor little betta)

P.S The chemicals are fine..nitrites at 0ppm, ammonia at oppm and nitrates at only 5ppm (not harmful until over 40ppm)

THE DANIOS ARE NOT FIN NIPPERS.they are scared of him (I'm getting a few new danios soon) and my tank is 5.3 gallons/20litres

Answer 1

I'm not at all sure you have fin rot on your betta. You mention that he lives with 2 danios. and was also left with a feeder block in his tank for 2 weeks.

I think two things are happening here, first the food block allowed far more ammonia to accumulate in the water than normal and caused some ammonia burns on the fins. Bettas would be far more likely to show this than the danios due to the longer and more colorful fins. Also, danios are well known fin nippers when alone or in a small group. The npping could easily cause the tears you are seeing. Just because you don't see them nipping him surely doesn't mean they aren't, remember fish act differently when you are near the tank than they will when you are away.

The minor red streaking in his tail wouldn't be a sign on fin rot normally, but it is a sign of ammonia poisoning or can be a sign of a bacterial infection other than fin rot. Given the history of the tank, I would highly suspect ammonia poisoning.

I recommend and big water change ( 50% if you have a filter, 100% if you don't) and removing any bits of waste or uneaten food as you change the water. If you have no filter, change the water every3-4 days and see if you don't see improvement in the fins within a week. If not, then there is a chance you are dealing with fin rot and you'll need to treat with a good antibiotic to clear the infection.

MM

Answer 2

Don't change all of the water! This changes the water situation too much for the little fish and stresses them out, which will only make the disease worse. Instead do small water changes. How much and how often depends on the size of your tank. For an example If it is 10 gal or less change about 20 % each day. This allows your fish to slowly acclimate to the better water.
You will also want to add aquarium salt, until the fish are better. The salt gives them electrolites that will help them to get better.
Go to your LPS and purchace some medicine for fin rot. It should be some kind of an antibiotic. While your looking for medicine be sure to check the ammount it treats and remember to remove your filter media. The carbon in them will remove the medicine.

While you are there you should also purchace some kind of water testers. These will help you to monitor the quality of your water and prevent your friends from getting sick again.

Answer 3

i will't tell from that image no matter in case your Betta is laid low with fin rot or no longer. At any fee, fin rot is maximum regularly brought about via rigidity and undesirable water high quality, both one in each of that were possibly latest in his delivery journey. i do not favor to apply drugs except they're truly needed. If I were you, i ought to strengthen his temperature as a lot as about 80 2 ranges, keep his water clean, and keep an eye fixed on his fins. in case you observe further deterioration, per chance drugs is so as. so a techniques as i have heard, waterlife myxazin is threat-free for use on Bettas. (it also will turn your water blue...) i'm wondering it may't be used with shrimp. i'm no longer positive about snails. i ought to examine formerly dosing. sturdy success.

Answer 4

Fin rot can be caused by poor water quality or infection.

After a two week absence, with a food block in the tank, a partial water change would be in order at any rate.

To treat for the bacterial fin rot, use any good antibiotic (tetracycline for a non-brand name ingredient - product names in the US may not be the same as in the UK) or one that specifically says that it will treat Aeromonas and/or Pseudomonas bacteria.

Answer 5

The food block is just a form of slow pollution,never use them.Two weeks without food will not harm your pets as much as two weeks worth of rotten food. Keep the water conditions as pristine as you can. Perhaps an antibiotic,such as Myracin,could help. Some aquarists use a quick (3 to 5 minute) salt bath to help healing. I'm not familiar with the salt dip method but perhaps you could find some help on a fish forum as to the specifics. ----Good luck to you both.---PeeTee

Answer 6

Completely change the water. Fin rot is contagious and is often caused by poor water quality. Get rid of that infected water and thoroughly clean the tank, gravel, and decorations. Tehn go to your local pet store and find a fin rot treatment for the water. Betas don't really need a special quarantine tank, just a standard fish bowl will be fine to treat him in until the rot goes away and he can be reintroduced to your fish populace (who are now swimming in new clean water). I would add a drop or two of the fin rot treatment to the clean tank as well in case it already spread to the other guys.

Answer 7

Take an aquarium water sample ( bout a 1/4 c.) to the fish store, they will test the water for any problems & they also have medicine Fin rot :)

Answer 8

use a little aquarium salt, that stuff is the wonderdrug of freshwater fishtanks. They sell it anywhere there is aquarium supplies. Its inexpensive and easy to use. completely changing the water can cause the tank to crash (losing all your fish) do to dramatic changes in the biological filtration.

Answer 9

you can go to the aquarium and buy this little bottle that will heal the fins as well as keeping your fishes healthy. but I'm not sure if they have it over there in England, ask the people at the aquarium, I'm sure they can help you :)