Rugged and torn fins

[BettasXD]

Tank size: 8g
tank age: started it 1 year ago but moved six months ago but I kept the BB on the filter media so the tank was still cycled.
pH: 8.something
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20/30
kH: -
gH: -
tank temp: 23-28C, normally at 25C


Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): rugged and torn fins, less active

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
original: 30% weekly with vacuum once a month
Now: 40% weekly with vacuum once a month

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: non

Tank inhabitants: a betta with some baby pest snails

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): non

Exposure to chemicals: just water conditioner

Digital photo (include if possible): 1st photo is before and 2nd is after. Both are of him flaring. Sorry for bad photo quality it’s hard to get him to flare in order to see the tears clearly so I only managed to snap a pic while he was turning around the corner so the picture looks a little weird.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Do you have plastic plants or sharp rocks? Those are the most common culprits for town fins. You can do the pantyhose test, rub pantyhose (only a dollar or two at the store) on plastic pants or rocks, if it snags and rips its too sharp for your fish and needs filed down.

Do large (50% or more) water changes daily or every couple days, this will help if its fin rot or a bacterial or fungal problem. It will also help prevent infection and promote healing of torn fins.

 

[itiwhetu]

Freshwater fish don't like pH of 8 something. The pH for almost all freshwater fish should be 7 or below.

 

[BettasXD]

Do you have plastic plants or sharp rocks? Those are the most common culprits for town fins. You can do the pantyhose test, rub pantyhose (only a dollar or two at the store) on plastic pants or rocks, if it snags and rips its too sharp for your fish and needs filed down.

Do large (50% or more) water changes daily or every couple days, this will help if its fin rot or a bacterial or fungal problem. It will also help prevent infection and promote healing of torn fins.

No plastic plants are sharp rocks. Only non real plant thing is a submarine hideout but it’s completely smooth nothing sharp. I actually tested with tissue which tears more easily than pantyhose and it didn’t tear. I will up my water changes thanks.

Freshwater fish don't like pH of 8 something. The pH for almost all freshwater fish should be 7 or below.

If I’m not wrong as long as it’s consistent it’s fine. If that’s the problem why was my betta fine before?

 

[itiwhetu]

If you keep a fish in a tank with a high pH and that fish prefers a lower pH, you will simply burn it out and it will just slowly disintegrate, which is what is happening to your fish.

 

[jaylach]

In the photos some white dots caught my attention. Could Ich be an issue? Hard to tell as, especially the first image, shows free floating bubbles which could be what I'm actually seeing as white spots on the fish...

 

[BettasXD]

In the photos some white dots caught my attention. Could Ich be an issue? Hard to tell as, especially the first image, shows free floating bubbles which could be what I'm actually seeing as white spots on the fish...

No it’s not ich. My fish had a iridescent that looks a bit like ich. He had ich before and I know what it looks like. It isn’t ich.

If you keep a fish in a tank with a high pH and that fish prefers a lower pH, you will simply burn it out and it will just slowly disintegrate, which is what is happening to your fish.

Betta fish ph is between 6.5 and 8 and my ph is only slightly out of range. If ph is really the problem, why are my friends fishes fine? Their water had the same ph and they have had some fishes for more than 5 years already.

 

[jaylach]

But how can you say that your PH is OK when you said it was 8. something? For a Betta the PH should be a max of 7.0 or there about. While it is true that they can handle a higher PH level it is not good for them. A PH level of 8+ is way high for the critters.

Ya, with doing a bit of research the VERY top PH for these critters is 8.0 but that is the extreme level for them to survive and you have sort of indicated that your PH is actually above 8.0. 8.0 is the max for basic survival and anything above that is toxic. For proper care of a Betta the PH should be in the area of 7.0.

As to your friends that seem to also have a PH of 8+ with long lived Bettas I have to question the validity. I would be amazed by a Betta living one year in a situation of a PH level of over 8.0. Actually I'd be surprised if the poor thing survived half a year...

 

[BettasXD]

Then is there any way that I could lower my ph safely?

My that friend actually breeds bettas and yes she did have some that survived five years. Most survived until the age of two to three.

 

[jaylach]

Then is there any way that I could lower my ph safely?

My that friend actually breeds bettas and yes she did have some that survived five years. Most survived until the age of two to three.

Yes I'm sure that there are safe ways but I think it would be better for others to give that advice as I'm very old school enough to still be using under gravel filtration. I would be afraid that my thoughts could actually do harm rather than good taking in today's filtration systems.