[khatlady]

Hello, Looking for opinions on the best treatment for fin rot in a betta. I would prefer one that you did not have to remove the carbon from the filter. Any suggestions? I have already tried salt and it did not help. Thanks!!

 

[Oldfishlady]

Often the best treatment is fresh dechlorinated water from water changes and good nutrition, however, it is also important to find to cause.....

Can you post a pic, do the fin edges look irregular, crusty and discolored

What size tank, type of filter, live plants, type of substrate and decoration, water temp, additives used, appetite, type/amount food/feeding, any tank mates, how long have you had him, any other health issues and types of treatments tried, how much and how long on the salt treatment...

 

[Luimeril]

clean water kicks it's butt fast, normally. really aggressive fin rot, that doesn't go away with clean water, and maybe a little salt, is the only time i'd medicate.

OFL is right, though. it's best to find the cause. it's more often that not, just not enough water changes, or a combination of a rip/bite in the fin and not enough water changes.

 

[khatlady]

I have him in a 1.5 gallon filtered and heated tank. I change the water twice weekly.... Once I do 3/4 of the water and clean the gravel then I change 1/2 the water again that week a few days later. I also apply dechlorinator at every water change. Water temp is 79 or 80. I've had him for 3 months now. He eats a combo of pellets, crispy flakes and freeze dried blood worms. I did a few weeks of the salt treatment about a month ago but I noticed today the fins look way worse. I can try to post some pics tomorrow if that helps....

 

[Oldfishlady]

Pics would really help.....how much and how long on the salt treatment and did you use a tannin source too....

Sometimes in small tanks...the filter is the cause of fin damage....

 

[khatlady]

I could not figure how to add pictures into this response spot. I did make a photo album under my name with three pictures. He does have a large split in his large back fin. If someone wouldn't mind checking out the pictures I would appreciate it. Thanks...! Try this link maybe? http://www.bettafish.com/album.php?albumid=3503

 

[lvandert]

I'd wait for OFL's reply but IMO that just looks like a tear in his fin. I didn't see any discoloration on the fins themselves, but maybe the pictures don't show it as well?

 

[khatlady]

I had a lot of trouble getting a good picture to post. He keeps swimming around fast! Is there a trick to get a good betta picture? Lol

 

[lvandert]

hmm I'm not sure. My gals and guys are good to me I guess, they always pose for me

 

[Luimeril]

that's not fin rot, it's just a tear in his fin. it should heal on it's own and not get infected as long as his water stays clean. :3 what kind of plants are in there? plastic can rip their fins up somethin' nasty. my black veiltail, Scout, got a rip in his tail, but his didn't heal just right. :I he's got a little Y-shape in his fin now, with one half curling up, the other down. xD it's kinda cute. x:

 

[lvandert]

Yup I agree with Luimeril; keep the water clean and just keep doing what your doing

 

[Luimeril]

i think BettaSpa has IAL extract, so that'll help the fin heal up some, if you can't order any Indian Almond Leaf. but, even without it, the rip should heal up just fine. my Cup once ripped his fins to ribbons on a plastic plant, and they healed up just fine afterwards. :B

 

[khatlady]

So you think it's a tear? I did have two plastic plants in there. I know one of them was sharp so I removed it. I have one plastic plant left in the tank. It is in the picture partially. It feels soft as far as I can tell. Not sure how he would keep tearing his fins. You really think it will heal on its own? This is the second "possible" tear in a few months!!

 

[Luimeril]

if it's the second one, i'd just replace all the plastic with silk. walmart usually sells a three-pack for around five bucks. only one i'd look out for is one with some red on the underside. :I the dye leaked into my tank, and i think that's what killed The Doctor. if you get it, let it soak for a long, long while before putting it in your tank.

it'll heal on it's own. :3 Cup's ribbon-fins healed up fine after a while. it'll take a bit, but it should. :V

 

[Oldfishlady]

I agree...it doesn't look like fin rot from the pics and often the best treatment is prevention.....maintain water quality, water temp, limit stress and good nutrition......

Sometimes in the small tanks the water movement can be the cause of fin damage with the long delicate heavy fin males-when you rule out decorations, biting and substrate as the cause......you may need to remove the filter-add some live plants and keep up with the water changes...

Lovely fella by the way...nice find.....

 

[Luimeril]

i do gotta agree.... i have that same tank, and don't use the filter. not because of that reason(i've never had it happen to any of mine), but because in a tank that small, filters aren't needed. two-to-three water changes a week are just fine. i get away with one-to-two in my tanks, but every fish is different. in my DTHM, i gotta do more frequent water changes, because he's regrowing fins, though.

 

[khatlady]

Could someone recommend a good brand of SILK plant? I prefer not to get live and it looks like maybe it was the plastic plants that ripped my guys fins twice...... (I can not find the walmart silk ones online like Lui recommended).

 

[Luimeril]

brand? o-o i always just get whatever's there. uumm.... if your petco or petsmart has them, just any kind of silk plant. Lulu loves the straight ones.... Ichi loves the longer ones that hang... i didn't know there were brands, honestly. lol