fin rot

[gingerjackie]

One of my Platys has a ragged tail which going by all the pictures look like fin-rot. I now have my hospital tank set up with some water from my existing tank.
The filter has a bit of filter from existing tank. I have tested Ammonia and Nitrite and they are both nil. Today I bought a solution for finrot and have put her in the tank with stated dose. The treatment is over 3 days, she has not been eating so should I not put any food in the tank. Will she be alright with no food? and when the 3 days is up do I put her back in main tank if she survives?
Ginger Jackie

 

[Dragonslair]

There should be no carbon in your filtration unit. All that there should be in the unit is filter wool/floss.
Fin Rot is often caused by bacterial infection. This can be due to water conditions, stress or even fighting.
Treatment must be quick, because if the rot reaches the tail base, it's too late to save your fish. It will die regardless. If that is the case then the humane gesture is to put your fish out of its misery.

 

[heresmike]

To answer your question about feeding... if she's not eating, don't feed her. Fish can go several days w/o food. If she starts swimming around instead of hiding, you could try to feed her. Any uneatened food should be removed though, because good water quality is important when treating diseases.

Hopefully your hospital tank has a bare bottom so you can suck up the junk easily.

 

[gingerjackie]

The rot has not reached the base of her tail ,and I only have a piece of foam in the filter from my main tank. She seems brighter this morning not just hanging at the top of the tank. I dont have a light in the the tank as I read that is not needed. Also her fins are not so clamped and her tail although damaged is open wide. She has just had her second dose, but no food. I will see how she is tonight when I come home from work. Thanks for advice.
Ginger Jackie

 

[tmlhaus]

The gal at the LFS was telling me just yesterday she puts Melafix in her tank on a weekly basis just for preventative reasons. Something to consider. I lost 2 fish (neon tetras) the other day to fin rot. Within 24 hours they were already dead. I think I'll take her advice and be preventative. Good luck.

 

[gingerjackie]

My Platy died this morning so treatment did not work. I used eSHa 2000 and on the leaflet it says this can be used as a preventative as well. All my other fish seem fine so would you use this or would you leave well alone? I dont like to put medication in tank if not necessary.Ginger Jackie