Hi! First time posting here as I’m concerned about my betta, Quimby. I thought at first his tail was turning blue, but I’m now concerned he might have fin/body rot. He’s my first betta and I’ve had him about a year and a half now. I’m in the process of setting up his hospital tank with fresh water and aquarium salt just in case it is fin rot. Can anyone let me know if this does in fact look like fin rot or just a change in his color? Thanks so much!
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quimby
Fin rot or color change?
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- color change fin rot rot
Hi! First time posting here as I’m concerned about my betta, Quimby. I thought at first his tail was turning blue, but I’m now concerned he might have fin/body rot. He’s my first betta and I’ve had him about a year and a half now. I’m in the process of setting up his hospital tank with fresh water and aquarium salt just in case it is fin rot. Can anyone let me know if this does in fact look like fin rot or just a change in his color? Thanks so much!
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Hi! Im not too familiar with diagnosing illness other than bloat and ick, but IMO its just color change. We do ask that anyone who posts in this section fills out this form. Just copy and paste into your own reply, fill it out and click send. This will make it easier for the more knowledgeable people to help you quicker!
It doesnt matter if you answered some of these questions in the post. They must be answered again lol. Trust me. It happens where ppl think that they don't have to answer it just bc they answered it in the original post... only said this as a precaution lol
The best of luck to you and your finny friend!
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank?
Does it have a filter?
Does it have a heater?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind?
Food:
What food brand do you use?
Do you feed flakes or pellets?
Freeze-dried?
How often do you feed your Betta? How much?
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change?
What percentage of water did you change?
What is the source of your water?
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water?
What additives do you use other than conditioner? What brand of conditioner?
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you. Important: Test your water before the regular water change; not after one.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness (GH):
Alkalinity (KH):
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms?
How has your Betta’s appearance changed?
How has your Betta’s behavior changed?
Is your Betta still eating?
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how?
Does your Betta have any history of being ill?
How long have you owned your Betta?
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased?
It doesnt matter if you answered some of these questions in the post. They must be answered again lol. Trust me. It happens where ppl think that they don't have to answer it just bc they answered it in the original post... only said this as a precaution lol
The best of luck to you and your finny friend!
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank?
Does it have a filter?
Does it have a heater?
What temperature is your tank?
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration?
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind?
Food:
What food brand do you use?
Do you feed flakes or pellets?
Freeze-dried?
How often do you feed your Betta? How much?
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change?
What percentage of water did you change?
What is the source of your water?
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water?
What additives do you use other than conditioner? What brand of conditioner?
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you. Important: Test your water before the regular water change; not after one.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:
Hardness (GH):
Alkalinity (KH):
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms?
How has your Betta’s appearance changed?
How has your Betta’s behavior changed?
Is your Betta still eating?
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how?
Does your Betta have any history of being ill?
How long have you owned your Betta?
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased?
Please fill out the form so we can help be your detectives in the event there are something we can tweak for you or discover for you in the environment.
At first glance, I would vote color change, fin rot usually starts as decay of edges. Early on the best treatment is to remain in the same tank and just do more frequent water changes to keep the water pristine. No salt needed.
At first glance, I would vote color change, fin rot usually starts as decay of edges. Early on the best treatment is to remain in the same tank and just do more frequent water changes to keep the water pristine. No salt needed.
Thanks for all the helpful feedback so far! Apologies I didn't have a chance to fill out the form sooner. Since yesterday, the dark spot on the top of his caudal tail appears to have some decay. I've attached clearer photos of the spot in question from yesterday and today.
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 3 gallon
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? 80 degrees
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind? No
Food:
What food brand do you use? Cobalt Aquatics
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? No
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? 2x per day, 6-7 pellets total
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? Every two weeks
What percentage of water did you change? 50%
What is the source of your water? Top Fin pre-conditioned aquatic water
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? Vacuum
What additives do you use other than conditioner? What brand of conditioner? API Stress Coat
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you. Important: Test your water before the regular water change; not after one.
Ammonia: Need to get a separate test kit for this
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0
Hardness (GH): 60
Alkalinity (KH): 40
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? Around a month ago
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? A blue stripe appeared at the top of his caudal fin. Since it appeared, it has gotten darker and looks swollen. It appears to have also started decaying. I've noticed his right eye looks like he may have a cataract as well.
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? His behavior has not changed much. He likes to lounge but is still active. He's recently started resting against the filter, which I'm wondering if this may be causing an issue.
Is your Betta still eating? Yes
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? I put him in a hospital tank yesterday with a small amount of aquarium salt and his heater.
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? He was sick last year with what I believed to be swim bladder, but has not had any issues since then.
How long have you owned your Betta? About a year and a half
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased? No, I don't believe so.
Housing:
How many gallons is your tank? 3 gallon
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What temperature is your tank? 80 degrees
Does your tank have an air stone or other type of aeration? No
Does your Betta have tank mates? What kind? No
Food:
What food brand do you use? Cobalt Aquatics
Do you feed flakes or pellets? Pellets
Freeze-dried? No
How often do you feed your Betta? How much? 2x per day, 6-7 pellets total
Maintenance:
Before your Betta became ill how often did you perform a water change? Every two weeks
What percentage of water did you change? 50%
What is the source of your water? Top Fin pre-conditioned aquatic water
Do you vacuum the substrate or just dip out water? Vacuum
What additives do you use other than conditioner? What brand of conditioner? API Stress Coat
Water Parameters:
What are your water parameters? Please give exact numbers. If tested by pet store please get exact numbers. "Fine" or "Safe" won't help us help you. Important: Test your water before the regular water change; not after one.
Ammonia: Need to get a separate test kit for this
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 7.0
Hardness (GH): 60
Alkalinity (KH): 40
Symptoms and Treatment:
When did you first notice the symptoms? Around a month ago
How has your Betta’s appearance changed? A blue stripe appeared at the top of his caudal fin. Since it appeared, it has gotten darker and looks swollen. It appears to have also started decaying. I've noticed his right eye looks like he may have a cataract as well.
How has your Betta’s behavior changed? His behavior has not changed much. He likes to lounge but is still active. He's recently started resting against the filter, which I'm wondering if this may be causing an issue.
Is your Betta still eating? Yes
Have you started treating your Betta? If so, how? I put him in a hospital tank yesterday with a small amount of aquarium salt and his heater.
Does your Betta have any history of being ill? He was sick last year with what I believed to be swim bladder, but has not had any issues since then.
How long have you owned your Betta? About a year and a half
Was he or she ill or suffering some sort of damage when purchased? No, I don't believe so.
Attachments
I do not see any fin rot or fungus. Looks as if ge is getting some cool new colors
Handsome guy
Handsome guy
First do not cycle a tank it can take weeks. Just do a nice water change in the tank he’s in. How long has he lived in this tank, what are your water perimeters now? He could be sick because maybe you didn’t cycle this tank. Once you’ve done a little change then put in aquarium salt, depends on the size of tank, then you have to use Bettafix, you cannot use Pimafix or Melafix, those two medications are too strong. Aquarium salt you dose once and the Bettafix you dose everyday for 7 days but unsure if you cycled the tank he’s in or not. If not could be the reason why he’s sick because you’re water perimeters need to be 0. Wising you and your fishie the very best.
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