Archie's tail is disintegrating. And dorsal!

[BettaMomma]

After Archie's melafix overdose, his tail was sort of shredded, not too bad.
Did 100% water change, started him on maracyn.
Looked yesterday like the tail was getting better and the strands were healing back up.
I just went to feed him and his tail and dorsal are both completely shredding and crumbling at least 1/2" up.

Help?!

ps - this is what Amos' tail looked like while he was dying

 

[SuckerLove86]

I'm sorry hun I'm not quite sure what to say.

Does it look like something he could have done himself?

 

[FishyLoveBug]

Ok, do you have anything added to the water at all, besides the Maca.
Did you add a stress coat?
Keep in mind this may all be wearing him out, he is probably having a harder time swimming and such. He may not be happy right now and nibbled it off himself. Kind of like some people tug on their hair when stressed.
Check any decorations you have for maybe a small spot that could be snagging is fragile new growth.
Is it a possibility he has some rot?
Did you rinse down all the plants, rocks, everything when you did the water change?

Just trying to throw out some ideas.

 

[3fsh]

You may need something stronger than Maracyn... maybe Tetracycline? If he doesn't get better in the next few days, it's worth a try. I've also noticed that in un-cycled tanks, adding a large dose of "Stress Coat" can heal fin rot very quickly. Hope that helps a little bit.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Maybe try a salt dip?

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay... here are pics:

<--sorry for the distortion in this one, it was taken while he swam past one of the corners of his hex tank

I didn't get any closeups of his dorsal but it looks like someone grabbed it in 2 places and just ripped it halfway up.

FLB -
I haven't put Stress Coat in, I didn't have any at home....I do have some at work tonight, I can take it home with me when I go.
It's entirely possible that he could be irritated with some finrot he had going so he started nibbling on it. But it's on the dorsal, too. Can they get at that?
He has no decorations in his tank that he could hurt himself on. He does have an archway, but that passed the nylons test so that's not it, and I also have just one silk plant in it. That's all.
I did rinse off everything when I did the water change with scalding hot water - the rocks, decor, plants, everything.
He does have a case of finrot - the ends were starting to get black, so that's why I had used MelaFix. I suppose the OD of that stuff just started a snowball effect, eh?

I do have tetracycline at home. I don't like to use that stuff except in extreme cases, but his tail is looking pretty bad.

SOOOO...
After blabbing on and on, here's what I think I will do when I get home:
A ) Give him a salt dip (should this be really concentrated, or just the norm - oh heck, just tell me how much salt in how much water or I'll probably OD him on salt too!)
B ) Dump in some Stress Coat
C ) Give him a 100% water change while he's in the salt dip

I think I'll give it a few days before I try the tetracycline, but if I notice it's getting worse by the hour I'll get him going on that.
Yes? No? Other ideas?

 

[SRC]

Salt DIP is 4 TBSP to 1 gallon of water (used for 1-30 minutes..depending on fish. You will knwo when to take him out..but honestly I woudln't leave him over 15 minutes right now at a time..you can do it 2-3 times a day though...give him 4 hours or so inbetween treatments though)

Salt BATH is 1 TBSP to 1 gallon of water (used to help treat fin rot over a long period of time...this is a live in treatment)

I love Teracyclene it has been a major contributor to my guys getting better on numerous occassions..I use that mixed with Melafix...usually has them whipped back into shape in short order.

Your guy coudl just be extra sensitive to melafix..you know liek some peopel are to Penecillian and such....not your fault Betta Momm.

 

[BettaMomma]

So, would you do a dip or a bath?
And still do a 100% water change?

How about adding stress coat? Will that help, too??
And then start him on the tetracycline do you think?

 

[SRC]

Personally I would do a DIP 2 times a day for 15 minutes each (unless he can't handle that long..just watch him the first couple of times. If he starts to kinda roll to the side go on and take him out..then try working him up in time frames...they eventually get used to it over time) for 3 days ....(I usually give them a dip and give them their food..keeps their tanks cleaner during treatment time).

I always do 100% water changes and just add a fresh dose of meds everyday instead of adding to the dose everyday (I disolve the piece of Tetracycline tablet in a small cup of tank water first though..so there are no chunks...can do this while they are in the dip as well (gotta love multi-tasking lol))

As for the Stress Coat...yes, I use it ALL the time..with every water change...it is a de-chlorifier/water purifier..so it's safe to use all the time. I generally use 7 drops per gallon myself. I also use 3 drops per gallon of Aquarisol religiously...whether they have fin rot or not..it is a med for not only treating fin rot but also for preventing.

I would also do a salt bath as well.

Here's how I would dose up the water for a 2.5 gallon tank:

2.5 gallons of water
14 drops Stress Coat
1 TBSP Aquarium Salt (this is the salt bath)
dose of Tetracycline
6 drops Aquarisol (very GOOD for clearing up AND preventing fin rot)

 

[BettaMomma]

Personally I would do a DIP 2 times a day for 15 minutes each (unless he can't handle that long..just watch him the first couple of times. If he starts to kinda roll to the side go on and take him out..then try working him up in time frames...they eventually get used to it over time) for 3 days ....(I usually give them a dip and give them their food..keeps their tanks cleaner during treatment time).

I always do 100% water changes and just add a fresh dose of meds everyday instead of adding to the dose everyday (I disolve the piece of Tetracycline tablet in a small cup of tank water first though..so there are no chunks...can do this while they are in the dip as well (gotta love multi-tasking lol))

As for the Stress Coat...yes, I use it ALL the time..with every water change...it is a de-chlorifier/water purifier..so it's safe to use all the time. I generally use 7 drops per gallon myself. I also use 3 drops per gallon of Aquarisol religiously...whether they have fin rot or not..it is a med for not only treating fin rot but also for preventing.

I would also do a salt bath as well.

Here's how I would dose up the water for a 2.5 gallon tank:

2.5 gallons of water
14 drops Stress Coat
1 TBSP Aquarium Salt (this is the salt bath)
dose of Tetracycline
6 drops Aquarisol (very GOOD for clearing up AND preventing fin rot)

Do I need to use my Start Right dechlorinator in addition to the stress coat then too?

 

[SRC]

No, just the Stress Coat is fine...because it is a water dechlorifier too. When you go to the pet store compare the bottles and you'll see. Most of them all say they include a prodcut to replace the "slime coating" on the fish. Stress Coat just happens to be a brand name of product that does the same thing. But I have tried several brands and found Stress Coat works best.

Stress Coat simply translated...it helps put the protective slime coat back on the fish removed during water changes.. i.e. being touched by the net, cup, or hand, and it dechlorifes/removes the Chlorine/chloramine the water.

Stress Coat brand just seems to be a more quality product from my stand point.

 

[BettaMomma]

Okie dokies!
My bettas will thank you, I'm sure.

 

[BettaMomma]

One last DUMB question.
I want to put in a bit of stress coat before I go home today - and I already dechlorinated w/start right.
It's fine to add stress coat in correct?

 

[SRC]

lol sorry, I'm sure you've gone home by now (I had to go myself) but honestly enough...once you have treated you don't need to over treat..too much de-chlorifier isn't real good either.

The 7 drops per gallon is all that is needed. Just do a water change tommorrow morning with some Stress Coat.

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay, well hopefully this isn't a bad thing...
I gave Charlie and Jasper a water change earlier today, and right before I left I put in about 5 big drops of stress coat.
I put in the regular Jungle Start Right before I realized waht i was even doing (forgot about the stress coat) and then I put a few drops of Stress Coat into their tanks before I went home.

I'm also home for the long weekend - friday, sat and sunday.
Hopefully they'll be okay!