When Cobalt started to get fin rot, I took him out of his larger tank and kept him in a 1 gallon container for around 4 days, which is when the rot cleared up. All I did was use about 1 tsp of AQ and did a 100% water change each day. I'm sure the almond leaf will really help though, I've heard those are really helpful.
New here need advice...
I have a half moon Betta named Dragon...he is red with aqua blue rays in his tial and fins...he also has aqua blue scales. He is very pretty. I have him in a cycled ten gallon tank, with a sponge filter and heater set at 80f...I also have live plants and an air stone. He had african frogs..they died...he had a goast shrip..but I took him out Becuase my Bettas fins were being torn. I put in metafix, should I add aquaruim salt too? The water was tested there is nothing wrong with it. I also added almond leaf in a media bag. :roll:
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It doesnt look like he has fin rot...just torn fins..there is no discoloration, or fussy stuff on the fins. The goast shirmp was about and inch and a half large one and he would swim all over not afriad of anything. So I belive he tore his fins. Unless the betta is tearing his own fins??? What is AQ? I'm not going to put my betta in another tank...he is by hisself.
Oh sorry I misread that. The only reason I suggested moving him to a temporary tank is because the smaller capacity makes 100% water changes easier, which is often required with meds. AQ is aquarium salt, which you should be able to find pretty much anywhere that sells fish stuff (I got mine at Walmart).It doesnt look like he has fin rot...just torn fins..there is no discoloration, or fussy stuff on the fins. The goast shirmp was about and inch and a half large one and he would swim all over not afriad of anything. So I belive he tore his fins. Unless the betta is tearing his own fins??? What is AQ? I'm not going to put my betta in another tank...he is by hisself.
This is straight from the FAQ on tail biting/tears located here: http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=73332
Fin Biting
•Symptoms: Not to be confused with Fin/Tail Rot, Fin or Tail biting is when a betta bites his own tail, tearing off pieces. Fins will be ragged, they will look like there are chunks missing, Fin loss can occur overnight, The tips of the fins are clean, no black or red edging, You may spot him swimming in circles, chasing his tail, There may be no other behavioral change
•Treatment:
Bettas bite their own tails out of boredom or misplaced aggression. To cure his boredom, try getting him a larger tank, move things around in the tank to spark his interest, put a mirror up to the tank a few times per day to let him exercise, offer a variety of foods, get him some tank mates (research into this first though), or put his tank next to another betta’s tank ect… Owners of fin biters often have to deal with their tendency for a lifetime but do what you can to draw his attention from his fins. When your betta does have a fin biting episode, it is important to keep his water extra clean to prevent infection. You can treat him for a few days with Aquarium Salt until you see regrowth but you do not want to overuse it. Using Stress Coat as the water conditioner will help fin regrowth.
:roll:Oh GREAT! He maybe bitting his own fins..wow! I did everything to try and make him healthy, happy and to have perfect fins...and he's bitting his own fins. I think he maybe doing that becuase of the almond leaf..I heard it can make them more agressive..he really swims like he is trying to attack.
That may not be the case, but the end result is the same whether it was the ghost shrimp or the fish. Can you post a picture of his fins? Usually if he's biting them it's more jagged, etc. and the behavior is pretty noticeable.:roll:Oh GREAT! He maybe bitting his own fins..wow! I did everything to try and make him healthy, happy and to have perfect fins...and he's bitting his own fins. I think he maybe doing that becuase of the almond leaf..I heard it can make them more agressive..he really swims like he is trying to attack.
I wish I could post pictures....theres large chunks out of his bottom fin, one hole in the top fin, tail fin is a little ragged, with a couple holes as well. How long should they take to regrow, I took the shrimp out two days ago. I have AQ..should I add some? Metafix is naturaul tea tree oil based meds.
Honestly the only experience I've had with this sort of thing was once when I moved Cobalt into my dorm. All I used was AQ for 4 days and his rot cleared up. I'd say metafix should be ok/just as effective as AQ, but don't expose him to it for more than 10 or so days (I think). Perhaps somebody with more sick-fish experiences could contribute too?
Metafix is not normally suggested because the tree oil can damage the labarynth organ. So beware of that. If his fin is just torn and not rotting then just keeping his water clean (maybe add an extra change) and you should start seeing clear regrowth in like.... sometimes.... 2 to 4 weeks. Then the clear regrowth with color up in time. If he is tail biting then thats a little different. I don't have experience with that yet and I hope I never do. It sounds more like he may have ripped it on something. I would do a once over and check everything in the tank. Even caves for sharpe points. I had a boy that even ripped his fins on gravel and I had to change to river rocks. But with regular fin damage (no fin rot) you don't need the melefix and salt. They will regrow with clean water (conditioned of course)
Well, I have gravel and smooth rock, live plants and one silk plant....I had a goast shirmp..every day the rips got worse until I took shrimpy out..so I think it was him. So if the water is clean, I dont need any meds? I have a sponge filter made for a 30 gallon in a ten gallon the tank is cycled before I put him in it. There is no ammonia, o nitrites nitrates are low. If it wasnt the shrip..I think he is bitting his own fins..I geuss i have to wait and see. I have almond leaf in there, metifix and AQ. If he is bitting his own fins, I think I should remove the almond leaf, known to increase agression.I will do a 25% water change soon. I only put one tablespoon AQ for my ten galllon. I didnt know the fins grow back clear..Thank you! I would have worried it was fin rot.
Usually fin rot curls the fins and sometimes is black on the ends. It could have been the shrimp but it could be the tail biting. So it's kind of a hurry up and wait thing. But yea, all they really need if there is no fin rot is good clean conditioned water. And your welcome!
Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of Betta keeping....so glad you found us and joined our Betta keeping community.....
Look forward to hearing more about your Betta adventures....
Look forward to hearing more about your Betta adventures....
Thank you 
Hello and welcome to the forum.
i know in regards to people, tea tree oil is SUPER drying when used pure. so i wouldn't use tea tree oil at all with my fish, especially if it damages their most vital organ!!!
Okie so AQ is better than Tea treee, if needed? I have removed most of the almond leaf...as I am not sure if he ripped his own fins or it was something eles and it takes so long for them to heal! :-?Hello and welcome to the forum.
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