Fin Rot

[Korki Buchek]

So I have now had the fish 1 week 3 days. He has started to eat now, off and on. A lot of the time he eats something and then spits it out. Anyhow, in the past 2-3 days he has developed pretty serious fin rot. He had these little pin holes in his finds that started growing and the edges of fins are starting to rot as well. I've been changing the water every 3 days or so (full change). Everything looks okay on the water levels, PH is a little alkaline (7.6 ish) but the overall alkaline in the water is low. I don't know what that means. 2 nights ago I sanitized his bowl with a solution of bleach and water (1 part / 20 parts). I let it dry outside in the sun for two days after rinsing like crazy. I have now put him back into a bowl of tap water, dechlorinator, and a little fin medication. I will probably add a teaspoon of aquarium salt in the morning.

In any event, besides keeping him in a clean bowl is there anything I can do?

 

[liz2]

You are doing all you can. I just keep mine in water with salt and conditioner, little meds. I just give them bridge or something to hide in and nothing at all on floor as it makes for easier cleaning.

 

[matty101]

My dartszz has some nasty fin rot too. I isolated him in a 0.5 gallon and use 2 meds and salt. He seems to be recovering but he also HAD a bad 1inch tear in his caudal fin along with the fin rot. The tear is now only 1.5cm which is a 1cm better. YAY! Hopeyour betta recovers quickly

 

[little_betta_boy]

My dartszz has some nasty fin rot too. I isolated him in a 0.5 gallon and use 2 meds and salt. He seems to be recovering but he also HAD a bad 1inch tear in his caudal fin along with the fin rot. The tear is now only 1.5cm which is a 1cm better. YAY! Hopeyour betta recovers quickly

0.5 gallon?! That's pretty small....You should AT LEAST have a 1 gallon!!

 

[Korki Buchek]

Thanks all. I put him from the emergency tank back into the big tank that I sterilized last night. This morning the rot appears to be worse.

Can the cold contribute to the fin rot? Can I used distilled water on the next water change if he makes it that far? What do I do?

 

[jollysue]

My dartszz has some nasty fin rot too. I isolated him in a 0.5 gallon and use 2 meds and salt. He seems to be recovering but he also HAD a bad 1inch tear in his caudal fin along with the fin rot. The tear is now only 1.5cm which is a 1cm better. YAY! Hopeyour betta recovers quickly

0.5 gallon?! That's pretty small....You should AT LEAST have a 1 gallon!!

Bettaboy: stop yelling! The fish will be fine while he is being treated, as long as the water is changed often. Please try not to be a ... well you know....

Thanks all. I put him from the emergency tank back into the big tank that I sterilized last night. This morning the rot appears to be worse.

Can the cold contribute to the fin rot? Can I used distilled water on the next water change if he makes it that far? What do I do?

Are you using any meds? He should be treated for the bacterial infection with an antibiotic. Distilled water won't help. I'm not sure what temp is best for bacterial infections, but at least he should be within his comfort zone, I think.

 

[matty101]

0.5 gallon?! That's pretty small....You should AT LEAST have a 1 gallon!!

I know But other than the 10g, my parents won't let me have any bigger. And of course I change the water every 2-4 days (50%) and he seems to be okay with it.

Korki, my betta's is 68-71 water (room temperature) and with a few meds and clean water, he seems to be recovering. I wasn't going to treat the 10g (which has another betta) if only one betta is in trouble. Also, isolating helps. If you can, heat your water temp to high 70's low 80's so bacteria can die (YESSSS) and the meds can do their job quickly ( YESS ). Use Melafix and a bit of aquarium salt as well as either Jungle- Fungus Eliminator or BettaFix Remedy. Hope it helps

 

[Glod]

Absolutely no point using melafix and bettafix, they're the same thing. If the rot is already pretty bad you want to go straight for something stronger.

As long as you re-filled the bowl with dechlorinated water that shouldn't be the problem, dechlor removes bleach too. Try an anti bacterial med (or antibiotic if you're in the US), something like Myxazin (or maracyn if you are in the US). There's a thread on the treatment of my Betta if you are interested in the steps I took.

Good luck with your fish

 

[Korki Buchek]

I got some maracyn II at petco. I have him in a 2 gal. tank, so I believe that is about 1/5 pill/day. Is it safe to simply cut the pill into small pieces and then put one in.

Also, the rot is not white in color. Instead it is black, looks like it is burned. But the PH is on the high side, so can't be acid. Plus nitrate/nitrite numbers look perfect.

What is going on with the poor guy?

Can stress also cause rot?

 

[jollysue]

That doesn't really sound like fin rot. I have a Cory that has a fin like that. I am treating that tank for fungus and am assuming it is some sort of fungal infection.

Stress is a killer. It lowers the immunity and makes the host suseptible to any opportunistic desease. (I say host because it is true of all living things from humans to plants.)

The Mardel product's pills are made to be just dropped in, so fine. I think you need a diagnosis though with the black thing. You may have an opportunistic secondary infection. If Glod, RandomWitkor, or another desease specialist doesn't have a diagnosis/treatment I would post in the emergency forum. It wouldn't hurt to post a second thread there anyway.

The infection is advanced and needs strong treatment, but you need a correct diagnosis.

Do let me know if you get something about the black fin thing.

Matty, I'm glad to hear your Betta is improving. I would say 1/2 usg is a minimum of 2-3 days. And, yes, Glod is correct: use one or the other of MelaFix or BettaFix, not both, I believe. Although I don't know about PimaFix's use as a secondary treatment. I guess I am a bit confused. MelaFix and PimaFix are used in conjunction. I don't have BettaFix, so I don't know how it relates other than it is a diluted Fix. Is it a combination and does PimaFix also need to be diluted?

 

[Glod]

Can you get us a photo Korki ? Also can you get water stats for us ? PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

As jollysue said, stress depresses the immune system leaving the fish open to opportunistic infection.

Primafix is a more potent bacteriacide, it can be used alongside melafix. Can't really reccomend a treatment until we know what the problem actually is tho. Black edges to fins could indicate high nitrites, or just a serious case of finrot. I'd suggest adding some salt (cooking salt or aquarium salt is fine but not table salt.) about 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons. Salt countereffects nitrite to a degree and will also hinder fungal infections.

If the Maracyn II tablets are solid then cutting one should be no problem, if they contain powder you'll need to try and add just the right amount when you open it. That's the downside of small tanks Makes treatment tricky.

Also be sure to remove activated carbon from the filter while treating with any medication.

Good luck with the treatment !

Glod.