Hello, I purchased a Betta in February. Shortly after I got 2 Albino Cory Catfish to live with my Betta. Things went well so I got a third Cory in the beginning of March. I have a 3.5 gallon tank and I have some moss balls in it. I brought the water in to Petsmart and they tested it for me, saying it was cycled, around mid March. About a week later (3 weeks in to March) my most recent Cory died. He had been smaller and less active the whole time, but I thought he was just younger and maybe didn't get enough food- my Betta likes to eat the sinking pellets too. There was never any fighting or nipping that I saw, and I watch the tank a lot because I love them. Things were fine since then until yesterday (April 12th). I noticed my Betta and a Cory bump into each other- not aggressively, just a bump and they kept going. However, I saw pieces of my Betta's fin break off and float down, like a dried leaf crumbling. I do not think it is from attacks, and the fake plants I have in the tank I ran across pantyhose before putting them in the tank and they did not snag, so I was not sure why this would be happening. This morning I checked in on my Betta and his fin was much worse. An entire 4th of his fin was gone! I went to an exotic pet store in stead of Petsmart to ask if they knew why and what to do about the fin loss. I explained the tank and showed him pictures of the fin loss. He said it was probably a bacteria infection and to use API Pimafix for bacterial and fungal infections. I purchased it and used it right away. I removed the sponge filter that has carbon in it from the tank because carbon absorbs the medicine he said. My Cory's were fine this morning and when I put the medicine in, but within about 4 hours one of my Cory's has died, and my other appears lethargic and about to go. He was swimming around and active when the other Cory passed, but now just 1.5 hours later he looks like he is on his way out. The directions said 1 teaspoon for 10 gallons, so that meant to me 1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons, and I did just under-like 2/3rd's of a 1/2 teaspoon for my 3.5 gallon tank. My Betta seems fine, but I am very nervous. Did I use to much medicine and it became poison? I hope not but I cannot think of anything else!
Please give me any advice or past experiences. I do not want to kill my fish and I am really sad that I have already possibly done harm to them while trying to help my Betta. I loved them and now I think I lost both Cory's, for sure one Cory. Please help. I have attached pictures of the Betta's fin, the Cory =-( , and the API Medicine used. They may not be very clear but I hope it helps.
Thank you so much.
Please give me any advice or past experiences. I do not want to kill my fish and I am really sad that I have already possibly done harm to them while trying to help my Betta. I loved them and now I think I lost both Cory's, for sure one Cory. Please help. I have attached pictures of the Betta's fin, the Cory =-( , and the API Medicine used. They may not be very clear but I hope it helps.
Thank you so much.
