Please help my betta!

[kaitlynm21]

I’ve tried two subreddits and no ones given helpful advice. I created an account just for this. Please help me.

My betta Sushi has holes and rips in his fins. It started as a small rip that i assume would heal, but he’s just been getting worse. I got Indian Almond Leaves, Stress Coat, but he just seems to be getting worse everyday.

Parameters are fine. If anything, pH may be too high (7.6) but everything is perfect. There’s a single ghost shrimp and no sharp objects. Heater and filter in a 10 Gal

Photos below. Is this fin rot? or something worse?

 

[itiwhetu]

Some of these fish have had incredibly stressful lives, they then get to a stage where they just give up, there is nothing we can do about it. This is the second fish today with the "I give up" symptoms. They typically look a look older than they are and they don't respond to any type of treatment.

 

[Naughts]

Please always give test numbers as "parameters are fine" can mean different things for different people.
The fin damage seems isolated to his dorsal fin suggesting it was torn somehow. Is your filter the sponge type? Is there a heater guard?

 

[kaitlynm21]

Please always give test numbers as "parameters are fine" can mean different things for different people.
The fin damage seems isolated to his dorsal fin suggesting it was torn somehow. Is your filter the sponge type? Is there a heater guard?

Hello! Apologies for the late response. I just tested his water and it’s still fine. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and >5 nitrate.

He has a sponge filter. No heater guard. Do I need one?

 

[Naughts]

The heater is just a possibility for the fin damage, given that there are no sharp objects in the tank.

With our betta his fins deteriorate when water changes are insufficient. Successfully treated by 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt dissolved then added to the tank for two weeks. When doing water changes the appropriate dose of aquarium salt should be replaced. In week 3 do daily 10% water changes with no salt and in week 4 do daily 20% water changes with no salt to slowly reduce salt levels.
After this pay close attention to good tank maintenance.

I'm not sure if this is fin rot as it is just the dorsal but I think it is worth trying given his general condition.

 

[kaitlynm21]

The heater is just a possibility for the fin damage, given that there are no sharp objects in the tank.

With our betta his fins deteriorate when water changes are insufficient. Successfully treated by 2 tablespoons of aquarium salt dissolved then added to the tank for two weeks. When doing water changes the appropriate dose of aquarium salt should be replaced. In week 3 do daily 10% water changes with no salt and in week 4 do daily 20% water changes with no salt to slowly reduce salt levels.
After this pay close attention to good tank maintenance.

I'm not sure if this is fin rot as it is just the dorsal but I think it is worth trying given his general condition.

Thanks! I’ll try the aquarium salt method asap. Will the ghost shrimp/plants/cycle be fine if I add the solution directly to the tank?

 

[Essjay]

They will be fine at this dose rate.