[Trochophore]

I'm really scared for my betta. A few weeks ago I changed my water and noticed that my betta had rips in his tail. At first I thought it was just because of the ornaments in his tank, so I just took them all out.

A week later, nothing healed so I read up online and determined that it was tail rot. I didn't want to use medications on him just in case, so I only added aquarium salt (3tsp in his 3 gallon tank). I also did a 100% change every second day.

It started to heal a bit, but it's been two weeks now, and I just changed his water again, with the salt, and the tail rot came back.

I don't want to use medications on my fish. Am I doing it right? What more can I do?

He lives in a 3 gallon uncycled tank with filter and heater (usually 25C, but I turned it up to 30C since adding the salt). Conditioner is added to the water for treatment, and currently aquarium salt too.

Thank you in advance

 

[ao]

I can't really see properly, but does his tail have a blackened edge?

 

[Trochophore]

Just took a look and it does look a bit darker, though I can't tell if it's actually black or from the pigmentation from my betta.

The tail usually starts disappearing ~5mins after I do the water change and lasts for ~30mins before it stops though.

 

[ao]

Watch your fishie carefully it might not be tail rot at all, infact you might have a biter

 

[Trochophore]

Thank you!

Is there anything I should do? Are my water changes too frequent?

Sorry for all the questions ><

 

[ao]

well 100% every two days is definitely ALOT. I doubt the fish minds though, unless you are handling him too much.

It should be perfectly fine for you to do a 100% once a week. I would highly recommend for you to grab a test kit and work pit the best water change schedule for yourself.
Did you make sure to keep the new water the same temperature as the old?
Fin rot is usually a gradual recession of his fins, where tail biting are sudden chunks dissappearing, and no black edges.
If he is tail biting after a water change, it could be because he doesn't like being handled so much and is stressed. otherwise it might be because the filter is too strong and he is biting his tail to cut off the extra weight slowing him down. In that case, try baffling the filter so it creates less of a current.

Sorry, I'm in bed and half asleep, ask me if I didnt say anything clearly, I'll try to help the best I can tomorrow

 

[Trochophore]

Thank you so much for your answers!

 

[Bladezero]

Looks like tail biting to me, 3 of mine do it sometimes..

 

[Silverfang]

That's biting. The naughty boys.