Betta with fin rot

[rdd1952]

I have been treating one of my bettas for fin rot with nelafix for about 5 days. It has gotten even worse today. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all 0. This is the tank that I where the pH had been dipping to around 6.0. I added crushed coral about 48 hours ago and the pH has risen to about 7.2. I wouldn't think that was too much to quick but maybe it is. He seems to be fine otherwise, swimming and even coming to bite my finger when I stick it in the water, thinking it's feeding time since he takes his betta bites from my finger. Should I take the crushed coral out? That would seem to just swing it back the otherway and be just as bad. Should I maybe try adding salt instead of the melafix? If so, is table salt ok and how much for a 2.5 gallon tank.

 

[BettaMomma]

if it's progressively getting worse even with the melafix, i'd go for something stronger.
Do you have access to Maracyn or something like that?

And it's really important to make sure to keep his tank SPARKLING clean from now on. Like water changes every couple of days with salt. And the meds, like maracyn.

I'd also stop messing with the pH. My boys are all in tanks whose pH hovers right around 8.4, always have been and it doesn't bother them cuz they're used to it.

Good luck!

 

[rdd1952]

His tank is the cleanest one I have. My nitrates are even at 0 along with ammonia and nitrite. I don't have any maracyn but will pick some up tomorrow. As for the pH, it just concerns me when I test the water and it is yellow, showing 6.0. I know they are very tough little rascals but that's pretty far out of their normal range. With it that low, I also worry about making a water change and bumping it up to 6.6 or so in such a short time. Someone had a post on another forum I visit yesterday about that happening to them. I think their's went from high to low though. If I could get it around 6.6 like my 29 gallon I wouldn't worry. I've got come of the Neutral pH that takes either high or low pH to 7.0 but I don't really want to start using chemicals. BTW, off topic, but how does that stuff know whether to lower it or raise it?

 

[BettaMomma]

Hmmm...

well i've never really tested my pH except at a few random times - and it's always been either like 8.3 or 8.4 - never really fluctuates too much, even right after water changes. It seems odd that yours changes that much as times goes on.

How often do you do water changes? Are they 100%?

I think, for the pH chemicals, I've only ever seen 2 diff kinds for raising or lowering.... 2 separate bottles, one for decreasing, one for increasing. I've never seen one that sort of automatically adjusts it to something like 7.0.

 

[rdd1952]

When I do water changes, it's usually 20% to 25%. The chemical is Seachem Neutral Regulator pH 7.0. It says it adjusts high or low pH to 7.0 and removes chlorine, chloramine and ammonia.

 

[BettaMomma]

Aaah - I see now.
you have a 2.5G tank with a filter.
My 2.5G tanks don't have filters. That's the diff.

Seriously, I would consider ripping that darn filter off and letting him go without it.
Take it off, give him a 100% water change, and do that about every 3 - 4 days til you see improvement with his finrot. Then you can stretch it out to once a week or so, depending on whether or not he finds all the food you give him. I can guarantee it will solve the pH problem, also.

But, it's up to you.

Lemme know what you decide

 

[Merlins_momma]

I usualy treat mild fin rot with jungle fungus eliminator it works pretty good and it already has salt in it. For worse cases m1..m2..and maroxy..the three can be safely combined. sever cases I use kanamyacin dont mix with anything else. Melafix speeds up fin regrowth after the rot is gone IMO it doesnt cure fin rot like it says it does on the bottle, and some bettas are sensitive to the tea tree oil. MM

 

[Raechal]

I am in the same boat. I have been treating my boy for 4 or 5 days with melafix and he seems to be growing more black finnage on his tail and not getting any better. Although he got his appetite back today and ate like a pig. But I did a 100% water change and haven't added any salt or melafix to his water and now he is eating and acting like my little boy. Decided to name him Angus. The next one will either be Artemis or Deiter.

Anyways bettamomma is the nicest person in the world and sending me some maracyn 2 tabs so hopefully he will do better on those. Has your betta been treated with melafix before? I treated Angus with melafix when I first got him for 7-8 days and he got better then, maybe he is immune to the melafix or something?

 

[rdd1952]

This is the first time I have treated him with anything. I plan on getting some Maracyn tomorrow. I'll probably pick up some salt also just so I'll have it. Should I leave the light off or on while I am treating him? I know he needs a stable environment.

 

[newfishies]

I am in the same boat. I have been treating my boy for 4 or 5 days with melafix and he seems to be growing more black finnage on his tail and not getting any better. Although he got his appetite back today and ate like a pig.

is the blackness eating away at his fins or is there new growth that is black in color? i think that the first is bad, but if it is the second, that would be a good thing...

i think a stable pH (especially if he has been in it for the rest of the time you have had him) is better than fluctuating.

i think the dosagefor salt treatment is 1 TBSP per 5 gal, so you would need 2 TSP for your 2.5 gal ( i think 1 TBSP = 4 TSP)

 

[Raechal]

I am in the same boat. I have been treating my boy for 4 or 5 days with melafix and he seems to be growing more black finnage on his tail and not getting any better. Although he got his appetite back today and ate like a pig.

is the blackness eating away at his fins or is there new growth that is black in color? i think that the first is bad, but if it is the second, that would be a good thing...

i think a stable pH (especially if he has been in it for the rest of the time you have had him) is better than fluctuating.

i think the dosagefor salt treatment is 1 TBSP per 5 gal, so you would need 2 TSP for your 2.5 gal ( i think 1 TBSP = 4 TSP)

I'm not really sure. All I know is that his tail is longer but it is growing more black finnage.

 

[rdd1952]

I am still not seeing any improvement with the Melafix. As a matter of fact, his tails looks worse today than every. I have been doing 40% water changes daily along with adding the proper amount of Melafix. Should I do a 100% water change and switch to Maracyn? My pH has leveled out now and been stable for about 10 days (about 6.8) and my other parameters are perfect with ammonia and nitrite at 0 and nitrate at about 5. The tank is completely cycled. I have also turned the filter down to just a trickle so the flow definitely isn't a problem now.

 

[BettaMomma]

Yep, it's most definitely time to switch to something stronger.
Maracyn should work just fine.
Good luck!

 

[BettaEddie]

I'm a little confused about what fin rot is. I'm reading here that you guys are talking about black growth on fins. Is that the only form it takes? I ask beacause I just got a brand new boy four days ago. He has been great; never sits still-so happy to be in his new 2 gallon tank he swims all over and flares. He eats whatever I give him, not finicky at all. His color is great, a deep blue. the only thing I've noticed now is that every day his tail has been getting frayed a little more. Its like every day a little more of his tail is gone/disappearing. Is this fin rot? its only happening to his tail so far--he's a veil tai--his other fins look fine. there is nothing black on it that I can see. Could it be from the strees of the new home? I've started to put a little bit of melafix in with him but not the full dosage for his tank( I didnt want to hit him with medication so soon after the new home change) Should I continue with melafix, change to jungleFE like I see mentioned here, or just leave him alone and see if it stops on its own after he really settles in his new home???

 

[Haiku]

Here is the most informative page I've seen on fin rot (someone else linked it in another thread a few days ago): http/www.mushi.petfish.net/finrot.html