Betta in really bad condition

[JD3P]

Okay so I have made a ton of posts about my betta being sick in the past. I've done quarantines with salt water, and than I've also used maracyn, I've tried fresh wc daily. This really only helped a little for his fin rot. Than I put him back in the cycled tank and now I'm noticing that his fins are worse than ever, it looks like they were cut off in the back, plus his dorsal fin looks as though it's just slowly rotting and turning into scar tissue. Or at least that's what it looks like. NOW I'm noticing that his left side is seriously compromised and I just don't know how to help him! His left pectoral fin has a section missing at the center. Also he can't flare that side of his face only the right. And I just realized his eye looks a little swollen compared to the right, except it doesn't look like a pop eye just yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if it turns into it. I should also add in that yesterday I noticed this stuff hanging off the tips of his fins. At first I thought it was a cottony growth so I used a q-tip to see if it would come off. Whatever it was just kind of fell off of him, but now it's back. I was thinking it was the sand in the tank, but it just started happening and he's been in this tank for months....seriously I just don't know what to do for him.

[dramaqueen]

I would try either Maracyn 1 and 2 or tetracycline. Fin rot is actually a bacteria and not a fungus.

[JD3P]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

I would try either Maracyn 1 and 2 or tetracycline. Fin rot is actually a bacteria and not a fungus.

I know fin rot is bacterial, that's why I've tried to keep him in the cleanest tank I could and I also tried Maracyn 1 and it didn't help at all. I also tried Melafix, the entire bottle over time...didn't help either.

[Lupin]

Could you please post more info?

And no, Melafix is absolute crap in this situation. It will do nothing against advanced cases of bacterial infections. Tetracycline will only be effective as long as your pH is on the acidic side. Kanamycin works better on the alkaline side. I'd still like to hear more about this situation before recommending the next med to safely use.

If you used only Maracyn (active ingredient: erythromycin), it will NOT cover the gram-negative bacteria possibly being the culprit here. Maracyn 2 is minocycline and deals with gram-negative bacteria. DQ is correct that you need to combine both Maracyns to form a broad spectrum antibiotic to deal with both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Otherwise, you will have to stick to Maracyn Plus instead.

Housing
What size is your tank?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have a filter?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Is your tank heated?
What tank mates does your betta fish live with?

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish?
How often do you feed your betta fish?

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change?
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change?
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change?

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?

Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness:
Alkalinity:

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed?
How has your betta fish's behavior changed?
When did you start noticing the symptoms?
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how?
Does your fish have any history of being ill?
How old is your fish (approximately)?

[JD3P]

Housing
What size is your tank? 10g
What temperature is your tank? 80 F
Does your tank have a filter? yes
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? no
Is your tank heated? yes
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? one snail

Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? pellets, and freeze-dried brine shrimp occassionally
How often do you feed your betta fish? 5 pellets daily, one fast day per week

Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? once a week
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 50%
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? seachem prime, and aquarium plant fertilizer

Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters? yes

Ammonia: 0.125 ppm (my tap water has ammonia in it to begin with, tank has been set up for two months and the number won't budge)
Nitrate: 30 ppm
pH: 7.8, usually around 7.5
Hardness: don't know
Alkalinity: don't know

Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? dorsal fin is rotting more and starting to completely disintegrate, and the dark blue coloring it has is starting to lower into his body. He can't flare his left side and his left pectoral fin has a piece missing along the center.
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? lethargic compared to past
When did you start noticing the symptoms? lethargy about two week ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? yes, over months I've done fresh w/c daily, salt water, melafix, maracyn
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Just the same problem
How old is your fish (approximately)? one year