Hi I'm new to fish keeping so please be kind. I've had my first Betta, Dexter, for about a month now. I cycled his tank before I got him etc. However he has fin rot, or so I think, his tail has gone all ragged and is getting shorter. He is kept in a 5gallon tank with heater 78℉ and a filter, he is now in a 1 gallon hospital tank, after daily water changes became time consuming, and I have added aquarium salt along with daily 100% changes but nothing seems to be improving. I thought it could be fin biting but I have never caught him doing it. He seems happy enough at the moment being the most curious fish I have ever seen, is there anything else I could do to help him? I can post photos if needed.
please help... fin rot?
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Joined
·
447 Posts
Yes, please post photos. Fin rot is often mistaken for fin biting, and visa versa. Also if you could please fill out this form? I know you answered some of the questions, but it makes it easier for everyone to see the information.
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)?
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)?
Thanks for speedy reply 
Housing
What size is your tank? 5gallons/1gallon qt now
What temperature is your tank? 78℉
Does your tank have a filter? Yed
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? Spongebob lol
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Bloodworms and brine shrimp
How often do you feed your betta fish? Once a day 6days a week
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Weekly/daily in qt tank
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 25-30/ 100 qt tank
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Nurafin aqua plus conditioner and salt since I noticed the suspected rot
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:0
pH: 7.5
Hardness: soft water area
Alkalinity: ?? Sorry
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? Tattered tail fin getting smaller now on dorsal
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? It hasn't
When did you start noticing the symptoms? 1 week
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Salt and clean water
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Only had him a month
How old is your fish (approximately)? A month plus pet shop age
Housing
What size is your tank? 5gallons/1gallon qt now
What temperature is your tank? 78℉
Does your tank have a filter? Yed
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? Spongebob lol
Food
What type of food do you feed your betta fish? Bloodworms and brine shrimp
How often do you feed your betta fish? Once a day 6days a week
Maintenance
How often do you perform a water change? Weekly/daily in qt tank
What percentage of the water do you change when you perform a water change? 25-30/ 100 qt tank
What type of additives do you add to the water when you perform a water change? Nurafin aqua plus conditioner and salt since I noticed the suspected rot
Water Parameters:
Have you tested your water? If so, what are the following parameters?
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:0
pH: 7.5
Hardness: soft water area
Alkalinity: ?? Sorry
Symptoms and Treatment
How has your betta fish's appearance changed? Tattered tail fin getting smaller now on dorsal
How has your betta fish's behavior changed? It hasn't
When did you start noticing the symptoms? 1 week
Have you started treating your fish? If so, how? Salt and clean water
Does your fish have any history of being ill? Only had him a month
How old is your fish (approximately)? A month plus pet shop age
Attachments
Joined
·
447 Posts
No problem.
It's hard to tell from the photos since he such a dark fish...from what I'm looking at I would actually suggest biting...but I'm not sure. It looks more like chunks missing from the fins. When you look at him do you see any black edging on the injured fins that maybe the picture doesn't show? Or if his tail is more fanned out, does it looks more like chunks missing?
For biting, it can be hard to pin point the cause. He does have a large tail, so he may be fed up with it and has decided to cut it down. It's hard to stop that. He might be bored, in which case you can try changing decorations around or adding something new. The AQ salt won't hurt, but even if it was fin rot you don't always need salt. Clean, warm water can be the cure for that. I would even suggest increasing the temperature of your tank to 79 or 80 since 78 is really the minimum temp. That might help the healing process.
Also, you may want to increase the amount of water you change in your 5 gallon. usually 50% in the recommended amount.
Again, it's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm still thinking biting, not rot.
It's hard to tell from the photos since he such a dark fish...from what I'm looking at I would actually suggest biting...but I'm not sure. It looks more like chunks missing from the fins. When you look at him do you see any black edging on the injured fins that maybe the picture doesn't show? Or if his tail is more fanned out, does it looks more like chunks missing?
For biting, it can be hard to pin point the cause. He does have a large tail, so he may be fed up with it and has decided to cut it down. It's hard to stop that. He might be bored, in which case you can try changing decorations around or adding something new. The AQ salt won't hurt, but even if it was fin rot you don't always need salt. Clean, warm water can be the cure for that. I would even suggest increasing the temperature of your tank to 79 or 80 since 78 is really the minimum temp. That might help the healing process.
Also, you may want to increase the amount of water you change in your 5 gallon. usually 50% in the recommended amount.
Again, it's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm still thinking biting, not rot.
Yes it does look like chunks missing 😖
Iv got another photo here with flash on.
He made a bubble nest before I moved him from the 5 gallon tank but I got worried when his fins got shorter.
I'll look for a before pic, it's hard to take any pictures when he won't keep still long enough to focus
Iv got another photo here with flash on.
He made a bubble nest before I moved him from the 5 gallon tank but I got worried when his fins got shorter.
I'll look for a before pic, it's hard to take any pictures when he won't keep still long enough to focus
Attachments
Joined
·
447 Posts
Bubble nests don't really mean anything except that he's looking for love haha.
I would still say fin biting. You'll have to do a bit of guessing and checking to try and find the cause of it, if there even in one. If he doesn't like his long fins it'll be hard.
I think you could move him back into the 5 gallon though and just keep an eye on it. Fin biting can sometimes lead to fin rot, so I'd keep the AQ salt and QT tank on hand. But keep the water clean and water (79-80) and watch him to see if you can see regrowth or if it's getting worse.
I would still say fin biting. You'll have to do a bit of guessing and checking to try and find the cause of it, if there even in one. If he doesn't like his long fins it'll be hard.
I think you could move him back into the 5 gallon though and just keep an eye on it. Fin biting can sometimes lead to fin rot, so I'd keep the AQ salt and QT tank on hand. But keep the water clean and water (79-80) and watch him to see if you can see regrowth or if it's getting worse.
Joined
·
447 Posts
I can't decide if I can see some black in that flash picture you posted.
I would still use the water clean water treatment and trying changing some things up in the tank to keep him entertained. I'm sorry I'm not more sure on this. Maybe someone else can confirm. Fin biting is still my opinion at this point. The long "gash" in the tail is what's throwing me off. Is there anything rough in the tank?
I would still use the water clean water treatment and trying changing some things up in the tank to keep him entertained. I'm sorry I'm not more sure on this. Maybe someone else can confirm. Fin biting is still my opinion at this point. The long "gash" in the tail is what's throwing me off. Is there anything rough in the tank?
Oh that's good, better than fin rot anyway at least I can stop panicking lol.
my girlfriends got rather attached to him, maybe the nests for her.
I managed to crash the cycle in the 5 gallon whilst changing tanks, will he be ok in it?
Iv suspected the filter current is too strong in the past and have ordered a plug in dimmer switch to try turn down the flow a bit.
Once again thanks for the quick replies
my girlfriends got rather attached to him, maybe the nests for her.
I managed to crash the cycle in the 5 gallon whilst changing tanks, will he be ok in it?
Iv suspected the filter current is too strong in the past and have ordered a plug in dimmer switch to try turn down the flow a bit.
Once again thanks for the quick replies
Joined
·
447 Posts
I'm not an expert on cycles in any way, so I don't want to assume.
You can also make a baffle, though you did already order them haha. I made one using a water bottle and a sponge, then wrapped pantyhose around the intake tube. There is a great thread about it in the...habitat forum I think.
You can also make a baffle, though you did already order them haha. I made one using a water bottle and a sponge, then wrapped pantyhose around the intake tube. There is a great thread about it in the...habitat forum I think.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
