Is this fin rot?

[dsscingular]

Sorry about the picture quality, I had a tough time getting a decent picture of this guy. I've noticed his fin seems a little frayed - could this be an indication of fin rot?

What makes matters worse is that he is in a new, cycling tank so medication wouldn't be good right? If this is fin rot should I treat all the fish in the tank or just the betta?

Thanks in advance

 

[dsscingular]

Err...sorry for not reading the "what to include" message before posting this, it was pretty late last night.

Temp stays between 75-78F, pH is at about 7.2 (keeps bouncing to 7.6 but i'm trying to keep it down with pH down)

The betta's fins are a little frayed at the end and have a grey color at the very end

I've been doing 20% water changes every week (this is only the beginning of the second week for this new tank).

I use ACE to dechlorinate the water and pH-down to get the ph down below 7.2 (it comes from the tap above 7.6

Tank mates: 3 zebra danios and 1 small plecostomus

Tank size: 10 gal

Haven't added any new fish, all were added at the same time about a week ago

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

most likely your Danios may have been nipping at his fins...i doubt its fin rot...just keep an eye open in case tho

 

[Inchworm]

Hi dsscingular

I can't really tell from the picture, but if you think it's finrot and you are cycling the tank and not doing much in the line of water changes, it probably is.

It's not unusual for a new betta to have finrot developing when you buy him due to the horrible conditions they go through during shipping.

 

[dsscingular]

Should I increase water changes during the cycling stage? How much can I do without stressing the fish?

 

[jams.alaskan]

What is your tap water ph? If it's not too extreme and it probably isn't then leave it and stop the PH up and down stuff. It's harder on the fish to have the fluctuations then it is to just get used to the ph yuo have in most cases. My ph is 8 and I've never seen any problem whatsoever with the fish I keep. I have had all the fish in your sig as well.....

ALASKA

 

[Jaded_Pulse]

What the others said. But do you have any plans for a larger tank some time in the future? Because if that's a common pleco, it's gonna get BIG......just something to think about Goodluck with it all.

 

[dsscingular]

Not exactly sure what kind of pleco it is but the lady at petsmart told me it is the kind that stays small...

I'm going to do 10% water changes every day until the tank is done cycling, that won't stress the fish too much will it?

Also, can I take the betta out and put him into a different tank (maybe 2.5 - 5 gal or so) to give him the meds?

 

[Nidge]

What is your tap water ph? If it's not too extreme and it probably isn't then leave it and stop the PH up and down stuff. It's harder on the fish to have the fluctuations then it is to just get used to the ph yuo have in most cases.

I agree, ph 7.6 is not to high, If it is finrot try lower the water temp down a little
and stop using chemicals because if they are been used incorrectly they would faul your water hence finrot. Also do more regular water changes.