Fin Rot??

[vocalgirl1986]

Help? Does my betta have fin rot? Ive had him for a few weeks. Hes very happy and eating well but a few days after I got him i noticed that every edge of his fins was lined with black. Then it looked like it was growing fin from it then I noticed this morning that one part looked smaller and have a few tares. Please help me... I dont want him to die.

[youlovegnats]

Hmm it doesn't look like fin rot in this photo.
What size tank do you have?
Do you have a heater?
How many water changes a week do you do and how much water?

[vocalgirl1986]

I don't have a heater. Its a 2.5 gallon tank. Ive had him for about 3 weeks and to be honest I have not done any water changes it. The water has stayed so clean so I left him because I hate stressing them out. This is another picture of it..

[youlovegnats]

It's the same picture...
Ok, you reaaalllyyy need to get a heater. Bettas are tropical fish and need 78F+ water.

And water changes- you need to do 50% once a week in a 2.5 gal. Do a 50% change + gravel vac.
Fin rot is caused by poor water conditions and ammonia build-up.

[vocalgirl1986]

Well i just did a entire water change. Ill go to the store and get him a heater. Do you think its fin rot or maybe he just tore his fins on something...? Anything else I can do to help him?

[youlovegnats]

Hm. Well, it doesn't look like full-blown fin rot just yet. Just make sure that you do weekly changes and keep him warm. :)
Nothing that clean water can't fix. :D

[Sena Hansler]

If you worry a plant could be a culprit, take out the plants, and check them all. Any rougher plants, could damage his fins. Stick to "fabric" or silk plants, and gentler plastic plants :)

Also it doesn't look like fin rot "to me"... Go get him a heater, for one. This will keep away stuff like fin rot, popeye, and all that, along with proper water changes. You can do 50% twice a week for that tank size.

If his fins keep getting worse, with all sharp or rouogh plants out, and the heater on, then you can get AQ salt, which'll help a lot! stay away from bettafix and mellafix, as it is basically poisonous to bettas.

[vocalgirl1986]

I have him floating to get acclimated right now. Do you think I should just wait until I get the heater to put him back in his tank. And what would you recommend? just a little betta heater? I have another betta in my kitchen and hes in heated 5 gal. And its just a very small black heater that you put under the rocks.

[vocalgirl1986]

The betta fix has killed two of my bettas..im glad someone else knows how harmful it is...

[Sena Hansler]

You can get ones that are "2.5-10 gallon heater" or something similar, which is what I have. it is generally okay for anything 2 and up, in my own experience. it's basically a mini heater :) just check the amount of power, and size it refers to.
And yes just a little heater... don't want to fry him >< Well when can you get the heater? Generally, heaters heat up slowly, and as long as you get a thermometer to check temperature there should be no problem. You want to slowly raise the temperature, if the heater you get is adjustable.