Problems with my bettas (2 pics)

[saphphx]

First, Erick is changing colours, which is a bit weird. Or is that normal? The black is spreading and he's getting metallic sea green stripes as seen in pic below.

Second, Mr Melinko's tail has many splits from a fight at the pet shop, and some of the splits go straight to his fin base, what can I do to help him heal besides frequent water changes? Should I add salt or something?

Thanks all in advance! More pics of Erick are Here (http://thefishiefiles.livejournal.com/4267.html) and more pics of Mr Melinko are Here (http://thefishiefiles.livejournal.com/4559.html) (Cross posted everywhere, sorry! I want as much help and opinions as poss as they are both getting worse!)

Erick:

http://www.spodbox.org/~saphphx/fishroompics/Erick-1.jpg

Water parameters
--Temerature range: 75-79F
--pH: 7.8
--GH: no test kit for this test
--KH:no test kit for this test
--Ammonia: 0ppm
--Nitrate: 0.2ppm
--Nitrite: 0ppm
--Water change frequency: 25% 2x week
Tank set up
--Size: 27ltr
--Substrate: sand
--Filtration: built in pad and bio
--Furnishings: lots of plants, terracotta plant pot
--Other tank mates: none
--How long has it been set-up? 2 years
--When was the last new fish added? 31/03/07 (when I got him)
--Is there a heater in the tank? yes
--Symptoms / Problem description: nibbled fins - some with white tip though not fluffy, got stuck to the filter the other day then just swam off on his own like he was just leaning on it, but has been fine for last 2 days and filter is very weak, also has colour change, was all pale pink with black scales when I got him. Nibbled fins are from panda corys that lived with him til I caught them nibbling his fins while he was sleeping (in all fairness I was feeding them worms that are the same colour, but they've been moved)
--Action taken (if any): more water changes, plants around the filter to block easy fish access
--Medications used (if any): none

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Melinko
http://www.spodbox.org/~saphphx/fishroompics/MrMelinko-1.jpg

Water parameters
--Temerature range: 74-76F
--pH: 7.2
--GH: no test kit for this test
--KH:no test kit for this test
--Ammonia: 0ppm
--Nitrate: 0.3ppm
--Nitrite: 0ppm
--Water change frequency: 25% 3x week
Tank set up
--Size: 10ltr
--Substrate: none
--Filtration: none
--Furnishings: terracotta plant pot
--Other tank mates: none
--How long has it been set-up? few days
--When was the last new fish added? 06/04/07 (I only got him on 04/04/07 and he was in a holding tub til I got the tank set up, I used water from another tank and a terracotta pot from another tank as well.)
--Is there a heater in the tank? no - room is heated
--Symptoms / Problem description: split fins, though no fungus or rot. Was rescued from a pet store where the divider had fallen and he got mixed in with a much bigger betta.
--Action taken (if any): more water changes
--Medications used (if any): none

[Coler]

I'm a newbie (I always say that so people don't trust me too much lol)

I had a little bit of fin damage from some personality issues in my tank and melafix worked just great on it - but I suspect clean water and time would have had a similar effect. I probably wouldn't just stick in meds again unless I saw no improvement over a week to ten days.

edit - btw nice bettas & kudos on the rescue ! I think Erick is just beginning to show his colour so probably nothing to worry about there. I see you have some nitrates so presume you used some filter media/gravel etc. from the established tank ? Just make sure also to keep an eye for mini-cycles/wee spikes in ammonia/nitrite

[saphphx]

I'm a newbie (I always say that so people don't trust me too much lol)
lol an honest start :P

I had a little bit of fin damage from some personality issues in my tank and melafix worked just great on it - but I suspect clean water and time would have had a similar effect. I probably wouldn't just stick in meds again unless I saw no improvement over a week to ten days.
Yeah, I don't like meds, its bad stuff. Will keep up lots of small gentle water changes I think and hope for the best

edit - btw nice bettas & kudos on the rescue ! I think Erick is just beginning to show his colour so probably nothing to worry about there. I see you have some nitrates so presume you used some filter media/gravel etc. from the established tank ? Just make sure also to keep an eye for mini-cycles/wee spikes in ammonia/nitrite
aww thankies - I think they're lovely :P Yeah, the tank Erick is in has been going for a few years as a QT/Hospital tank, for Mr Melinko's tank I used established water and will soon have an established filter for him in a day or two :)

Thanks so much for the help :)

[Coler]

no probs :)

[echoofformless]

Melafix and Pimafix are extremely gentle medications and most of us have found they can be used and used and used with no ill effects on even the most sensitive fish.

They're not hardcore antibiotics and antifungals - so you wouldn't be slick to use them in extreme cases where hard meds are needed; but that is actually their strength when it comes to very minor cases - they speed healing and help the fish resist further infection both by acting on the fish, and also by acting as a mild antiseptic for the water column without overtaking the tank and causing the other problems that hard meds can cause.

I often use both at the same time to treat minor fin rot, injuries from nipping, scrapes, very mild cases of fungus, bacteria, etc. I also use them as a preventative in my QT tank.



Anyway to address you questions -

Bettas and many other fish will change colors as they mature.

Mild fin damage isn't usually much to worry about. Keep up with the water changes and keep the gravel vacuumed. But please be sure to make the water changes careful and gentle because if you stress the fish you will of course be undoing your own efforts in keeping them healthy.

Use Melafix dosed at about a quarter the recommended dose. The reason for this is that I have read reports (only reports not factual studies) that labyrinth fish are sensitive to these meds.

Everything should be just fine.

[saphphx]

ah cool :) I syphon my water back into the tank with a small hose so it doesn't make a current. They seem happier that way :)

Will keep up the water changes and keep an eye on them. thanks :)