Betta with Fin Rot

[jossswonk]

A week or 2 ago I moved my Betta to college with me. About half a week after he was moved in I noticed he had some holes in his fins. Now the edges of his tail fin is jagged but otherwise he is acting and eating normal. During the move I kept the water so there wouldn't be a huge change in water parameters right away. I moved him in the cup he came in and while he was being moved he lost all of his color and had stress stripes. When I noticed he had fin rot I did a water change started dosing Melafix as well as putting salt in the water during the water change. It's been about half a week since the start of the treatment and he doesn't seem to be recovering. If anyone has any advice I would be happy to hear it so I can try to save my Betta.

 

[jossswonk]

He seems to have worsened overnight so I'm going to see if I can get him some stronger meds that will hopefully make him feel better.

 

[Lcc86]

Sorry to hear this, I'm currently dealing with the same with my betta, here's my thread which may have some useful advice, although sounds like you've tried salt already:

Fin rot salt treatment procedure

My betta has developed a mild case of fin rot on his dorsal fin, sorry I haven't been able to get a picture yet but I would say it's minor but obviously want to get it sorted. Other fins all seem to be okay. Normal procedure is a 70% water change weekly. I completed a water change yesterday...

www.fishforums.net

What are your water parameters? Do you know if there's been a big change between your previous water supply and current in terms of gH, kH etc?

 

[jossswonk]

I have done 2 rounds of treatment of API Fin and Body Cure and my betta's condition seems to slowly be improving. How many rounds of treatment should I do? He also still seems like his perky usual self.

 

[MaloK]

• Add one dose into the aquarium.
• Repeat dose after 24 hours.
• Wait another 24 hours then change 25% of the aquarium water.
• Repeat this treatment for a second time, for a total of 4 doses.
• Make a final 25% water change and add fresh activated carbon.

 

[jossswonk]

So if I stop giving him medication will his fins continue to heal?

 

[MaloK]

It should, It depends on the current gravity of the infection. But don't hesitate to re-iterate if doesn't.

 

[jossswonk]

Would it heal faster if I dosed aquarium salt after the last round of medication? And should I use it until the fins are fully healed?

 

[fishorama]

Salt (regular table salt) only treats a few issues, it's not a cure all. "aquarium salt" is not the same...& will treat fewer problems.

IMO, Melafix is next to useless. If my fish needs treatment, I will use real drugs. Like antibiotics, or old school dyes & some others...I will look up what API fin & body care might be. I'll look it up tomorrow. It sounds like a "magic elixir" up there with some other iffy treatments.

Have you tested your new water? He may be stressed out over very different water.

 

[Essjay]

Some ingredients -

Melafix is cajeput oil
API Fin & Body Cure contains sodium chloride [aka common salt] and doxycycline hyclate.
API Aquarium Salt is "made from evaporated sea salt" [from API website] though the safety data sheet says

CAS No	%[weight]	Name
7647-14-5	100	sodium chloride

 

[jossswonk]

Thanks for the info! So do you think it's the medication that's helping my Betta or the frequent water changes I'm doing? I will grab my water nest kit the next time I'm home so I can test the water. Another theory I had for his fin rot was stress due to temperature. Shortly after I moved him in there was a heat wave in my area and it was really hot in my dorm. If I were to guess I would say it was about mid to upper 80's. I'm not sure how sound this theory is though since bettas are tropical.

 

[Essjay]

All I know about doxycycline is that I was prescribed it when my son's cat bit me and it got infected. It worked on me for that.

Bettas can cope with higher temps than a lot of fish, though the upper 80s is a bit too warm for them. It's possible that it stressed the betta and we all know that stressed fish get sick more easily. But that's just a guess, I would listed to someone who knows more about fish diseases than me.

 

[jossswonk]

Should I continue to dose API Fin and Body Cure? He is still acting his normal self but I really want to get his fins cleared up.