Heya, it's me again.
Some of you might remember Rakesh, the out-of-nowhere new betta, and me, the totally unprepared owner-by-default. Things are going alright, considering the lack of adequate size and conditions. It's usually around 80F in the room so I figure that more than likely his water is about 70-75. I also keep his tank next to my laptop, so the fan from it heats the table and thus the water. (I give the side a feel every now and again to make sure it's not getting too warm.)
But the point of this post is that he's gotten fin rot- not particularly surprising. I changed his water more frequently, about every other day (he didn't like the tap water + Tetra Aqua Safe, so I have to use store bought drinking water, per the recommendation of a neighbor), and he looks a bit more fin-y. However, the edges of his fins are still transparent and a bit ragged. I couldn't find a picture pointing out the differences between new fin growth and fin rot, only that new fin growth is clear. Which isn't exactly that helpful, considering that fin rot is also about the fins becoming transparent.
Akesh is flaring- I think I accidentally trained him to flare at my fingers- he's active, eating well, made a few tiny bubble nests... He'll have spastic episodes, though, before just hovering in the water without moving for a few moments. Then he's swimming around again. I can't tell if it's a wiggle dance or if he's flipping out for one reason or another... I'm hoping someone here will? D:
This is him before... [X]
This is him now... [X][X]
Housing
What size is your tank? 1.5 Gallon
What temperature is your tank? ~70-75 (Room is 70-80)
Does your tank have a filter? No, unfortunately
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Is your tank heated? Room temp is very warm, sometimes heated by laptop fan (but not directly for long periods of time)
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? None
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? TopFin Color-Enhancing Betta Bits
How often do you feed your betta fish? 3 bits twice a day, once a day on Sunday
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Every 3-4 days- Recently, every other day
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 100%. If I don't do 100%, I do a 25-30%.
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? I use drinking water + a drop or two of Tetra Aqua Safe, since I clean the rocks and plants with tap water.
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
I do not have a testing kit.
Ammonia: N/A
Nitrite: N/A
Nitrate: N/A
pH: N/A
Hardness: N/A
Alkalinity: N/A
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? Fins are a bit ragged, transparent edges
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? It has not (aside from spastic movements)
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Since getting him a month ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? I have been increasing the water changes, as well as putting in an extra drop of Aqua Safe, which claims to help fins/gills heal
Does your fish have any history of being ill? He's had fin rot since just after we got him from Petsmart
How old is your fish (approximately)? Age we got him + 1 month (7 months?)
Thank you all so much for your help before, and thanks to anyone who offers help this time around. <3 Rakesh and I appreciate it.
Some of you might remember Rakesh, the out-of-nowhere new betta, and me, the totally unprepared owner-by-default. Things are going alright, considering the lack of adequate size and conditions. It's usually around 80F in the room so I figure that more than likely his water is about 70-75. I also keep his tank next to my laptop, so the fan from it heats the table and thus the water. (I give the side a feel every now and again to make sure it's not getting too warm.)
But the point of this post is that he's gotten fin rot- not particularly surprising. I changed his water more frequently, about every other day (he didn't like the tap water + Tetra Aqua Safe, so I have to use store bought drinking water, per the recommendation of a neighbor), and he looks a bit more fin-y. However, the edges of his fins are still transparent and a bit ragged. I couldn't find a picture pointing out the differences between new fin growth and fin rot, only that new fin growth is clear. Which isn't exactly that helpful, considering that fin rot is also about the fins becoming transparent.
Akesh is flaring- I think I accidentally trained him to flare at my fingers- he's active, eating well, made a few tiny bubble nests... He'll have spastic episodes, though, before just hovering in the water without moving for a few moments. Then he's swimming around again. I can't tell if it's a wiggle dance or if he's flipping out for one reason or another... I'm hoping someone here will? D:
This is him before... [X]
This is him now... [X][X]
Housing
What size is your tank? 1.5 Gallon
What temperature is your tank? ~70-75 (Room is 70-80)
Does your tank have a filter? No, unfortunately
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Is your tank heated? Room temp is very warm, sometimes heated by laptop fan (but not directly for long periods of time)
What tank mates does your betta fish live with? None
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? TopFin Color-Enhancing Betta Bits
How often do you feed your betta fish? 3 bits twice a day, once a day on Sunday
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Every 3-4 days- Recently, every other day
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 100%. If I don't do 100%, I do a 25-30%.
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? I use drinking water + a drop or two of Tetra Aqua Safe, since I clean the rocks and plants with tap water.
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
I do not have a testing kit.
Ammonia: N/A
Nitrite: N/A
Nitrate: N/A
pH: N/A
Hardness: N/A
Alkalinity: N/A
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? Fins are a bit ragged, transparent edges
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? It has not (aside from spastic movements)
When did you start noticing the symptoms? Since getting him a month ago
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? I have been increasing the water changes, as well as putting in an extra drop of Aqua Safe, which claims to help fins/gills heal
Does your fish have any history of being ill? He's had fin rot since just after we got him from Petsmart
How old is your fish (approximately)? Age we got him + 1 month (7 months?)
Thank you all so much for your help before, and thanks to anyone who offers help this time around. <3 Rakesh and I appreciate it.