My Poor Sick Betta...

[Arashi]

Well, my poor little Tsing Tao, has had a relapse of fin rot. When my boyfriend and I had bought him from the pet store, he had it as well, but he was just so pretty (and the store is so damn horrible to their bettas ) that we just had to bring him home with us. His tail was actually growing back quite nicely for the first few weeks after we got him, but now it's starting to look all chewed up again, and this morning he looked so miserable...it looked like something had taken a chunk out of his tail. So, I went out and bought him some meds. Does anyone know if I should be doing anything else for him, or is the medication enough? I've never had to deal with fin rot before...

 

[smpthy4thedevil]

you can add aquarium salt, melafix/bettafix/bettamax, and stress coat in addition to the medication you get him. i'm assuming you're getting him anti-biotics? dont get triple-sulfa stuff, it's never worked for me. oh, and make sure you keep his water extra-clean.

edit: btw, that blueish/purplish betta in your sig is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[Arashi]

Thansk for responding smpthy4thedevil. Actually I'm just using Melafix, but I do have some stress coat as well, so I'll put that in the water too. His tank was just changed two days ago, but I'm going to change it again tomarrow if I can get to it.

The bluish/purple betta is actually Tsing Tao, my poor sick betta! Glad you like him! I just hope he'll look like that again pretty soon.

 

[superpenguin22]

if it gets really bad use penacillin caps they are made by aquatronics

 

[Arashi]

Hmmm...I'm not sure if either of my local lfs stocks those, but I can find out. Unfortunatly I'm a bit short on cash, so I hope that just the regular stuff will work out.

At least Tsing Tao seems happier than this morning. So, I guess I can be happy about that.

 

[superpenguin22]

Hmmm...I'm not sure if either of my local lfs stocks those, but I can find out. Unfortunatly I'm a bit short on cash, so I hope that just the regular stuff will work out.

At least Tsing Tao seems happier than this morning. So, I guess I can be happy about that.

well that is good and also the penacillin isnt that expensive
PS: what is the name of ur lfs?

 

[Arashi]

We have two actually. One is PetStuff...but I don't like them as they take horrible care of their fish and small animals. The other is called Main Street Tropical Fish and Pets, but they are a small family owned buisness, that only very recently opened. *shrug* I guess I'm just not quite sure what to do, but like I said, at least my betta is looking better.

 

[superpenguin22]

well at least give him liquid vitamins because he will NEED the extra immunity when getting better (or should i say betta? LOL)

Well good luck PS i put your etta on a prayer list so hope for the best

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Arashi

Finrot is a bacterial infection caused by either Columnaris or Aeromonas bacteria. Or, as is often the case, by both of them at the same time.

It takes hold when a fish's immune system is weakened by any or a combination of the following factors: overcrowding, high nitrites, uneaten food in the tank, low oxygen content of the water, infrequent enough water changes, sudden increase in temperature. It's not unusual for a betta to arrive from the lfs with a case of it since they undergo horrible conditions while they are being shipped and often while they are there.

I recommend Kanamycin which is an antibiotic sold as Kanacyn by Aquatronics or KanaPlex by Seachem. It will treat both kinds of bacterial infection. Or, you could use Maracyn, it will treat Columnaris, but you will need Maracyn2 to treat an Aeromonas infection. Since you cannot tell them apart readily, use them both at the same time. (KanaPlex is not a very expensive medicine. That's partly why it's my first choice to use.)

While you are medicating him, keep the water at a constant temperature no higher than 75 degrees and if possible, add an airstone to keep the surface of the water slightly in motion which will add oxygen to the water. Both these things will make it more difficult for the bacteria to reproduce and so make the medicine work more effectively.

Follow the instructions on the medicine and give it for the fill course that is recommended even if the fish appears to be better before that.

Good luck. I hope your betta gets well soon.

 

[Arashi]

Inchworm and superpenguin22 - Thanks...both of you. I'm going to go out tomarrow and get some of that KanaPlex stuff. Hopefully that will do the trick. I'm also going to do a partial water change in the tank tomarrow, so hopefully that will do a bit of good as well.

I appreciate both of your thoughts, and will do my very best to give my betta the best care he deserves. I'll keep you updated on his condition.

 

[Arashi]

I went out right away this morning and bought some of that KanaPlex, so I'll let you kow how that works out for him.

My little boy definitely seems to be feeling better today...he's much more lively and has even made a little bubblenest for me.

 

[superpenguin22]

Well that is very good