!!!!! Help with newest rescue !!!!

[riogal_11]

Ok, I rescued a girl about 2 weeks ago and had her with another rescue girl that I got the same day. Well I seperated them once I was told that stripes were a sign of agression. After they were seperated I noticed that one had some missing finnage in the back... not bad at all, barely noticable, I assumed maybe she had been nipped. Well now about 5 days of her being on her own she absolutely none or very little fins left on the back and the top. I don't know if this is fin rot or what. It's so close to her body now that I'm afriad it will keep going if it's not just nipping~~~Is it possible that she is biting her tail. It doesn't seem likely b/c she is so small, and maybe I'm just hoping that's what it is. Any help would be appreciated. Should I add salt and melafix? Sorry about the pic quality, those were the best I could get.

 

[FalconStorm]

Is she in with any other fish right now? Are there any other marks on her body? It sounds like fin rot to me, but there are some other, more serious illnesses that have loss of finnage as a symptom. Look for fuzziness on the ragged tips of the fins. That's an indication of fin rot. If they look like clean severations, it may be tail biting, but I doubt it if it's on the dorsal fin too.

If it is fin rot, give her a 100% water change. Add stress coat and some salt to the water. I'd try just that for a couple of days. If you don't see improvement, Maracyn is a good medication for fin rot. It also treats other things that may look like fin rot and not be it, like columnaris.

Some others may have some more in depth advice too. That's just what I know.

 

[GuppyDude]

if she not with any other fish is probably rot, females dont have long enogh finage for nipping themselves. in ur case i would recommend melafix (diluted doses) because i see that you case is fairly life threatening. make sure theres and air stone and teh water is perfectly clean 24/7 (that means a water changes every day) good luck

 

[BettaMomma]

YOIKES!
That looks like a very nasty case of progressed finrot.

Honestly, if that fish were mine, I would probably bring out the big guns right away - and get some tetracycline tablets for her. Do you have access to a lfs or PetSmart, something like that where you could get some? I think - no, I KNOW that I would. I think that's about your only hope for her now...

Also make sure her water is SUPER sparkly clean, and get some salt in there - I'd skip the melafix because at this point, it's not going to do enough good to even bother.

 

[riogal_11]

I did a water change yesterday and added salt, stress coat, and melafix. I am getting ready to do another 100% change right now. I will try to go find the tablets bettamomma, but my lfs's aren't too great, so I'm not sure they'll have any.

 

[BettaMomma]

If you can't find any tetracycline anywhere in town, you could also get some Maracyn 2. But I'd see if I could fine the tetracycline first - it would be a better option for her I think.

Good luck!!

 

[riogal_11]

After leaving my last message I went straight to town, got into an arguement with a worker at my lfs who tried to tell me that I was pretty much a moron for keeping female bettas together, and didn't get any meds b/c they didn't have it, nor did they have it at the one other lfs to choose from. So I have no meds except for the melafix. It seems to be helping, not getting any worse at least, she's very active and has some bit of tail left, it's kinda transparent looking.

 

[BettaMomma]

Well they're jerkoffs. They should have been MUCH nicer to you.
It's a good thing the weather is nice, I'm in a good mood and I have another place to call tonight or I'd call them and give them a piece of my mind. After all - the customer IS always right. ESPECIALLY when the customer is ME. lol

I'd be happy to overnight you some tetracycline - where do you live?
I can't get it out til tomorrow, but you'd have it by Thursday.

PM me your address if you would like some.
Tell me again what size tank she is in and I"ll figure out how much you need.

 

[riogal_11]

bettamomma you have mail. The customer IS always right. especially when they REALLY ARE right!!! argghh and the fact that she got snotty with me makes it even worse, I had never seen this girl before, so she's probably new. I think everyone in there sucks except one guy, and he doesn't know a whole whole lot about fish, but can tell you anything you wanna know about plants. But at least he doesn't CLAIM to know things that he doesn't. He also warned me one day to NEVER ask people near the front of the stre for help, b/c they are as he said "clueless". This girl was actually in the Fish section which pisses me off 100 times more!!!

 

[BettaMomma]

You know it's bad when one of their own employees tells you not to ask others who work there for help. lol

THEY are the ones who need help.

 

[riogal_11]

bettamomma, is that offer still there? I looked at a couple other places today for it, and no luck!! I PM'd you last night, lemme know if you got it.