I think I screwed up...(long post... sorry)

Stefanie

Stefanie

AC Members
Jan 12, 2005
119
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16
Maryland
My betta is suffering from tail and fin rot.
In order to treat him without having a hospital tank set up, I purchased a new tank (10G) with filter and heater, filled it with water, dechlorinator and a big decoration (new), let the temperature stablilize and added filter material from my established tank. I know this is not ideal, but I thought it was the best to do to have a somewhat stable environment for him... was I wrong?
I started treating with a combination of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 (which seems to help), and on day 3 (yesterday) the water started getting really cloudy. I am testing twice daily for Ammonia and Nitrites and they are both undetectable... so this does not seem to be the problem (yet).
My question is: am I supposed to do water changes between additions of more medication (on the label it says to add one tablet per 10G daily), or do I let it build up? I did not do water changes... is this my problem?
Also, the label says it does not damage the biofilter... is this true or should I continue to check twice daily?
I would be very thankful for any advice to what I can do better... I feel like such a horrible pet parent now...
 
I would have just put the betta in a 1 gallon bowl with some fresh dechlorinated water under a warm incandescent lamp and added a very small amount of the med.

You are stressing the betta by putting him through a tank cycle I think.

He's already sick, so this might actually kill him. I'd remove the betta to a bowl with a floating plant for cover, and treat him to everday partial water changes, and just a few drops of the med. Goodluck.

Hmm 0 nitrites and 0 amonia. Maybe the cycle hasn't started yet. Watch the amonia.
 
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I think you did your best Stefanie, don't beat yourself up. What SF said will work, but I think your current setup will be okay as well. I would do daily 50% water changes between doses of meds - this is how I treat sick fish, it seems to work well.
Give him some cover - a floating plant (real or plastic) will make him feel safer and less exposed. Some fish are insecure in bare-bottomed tanks, a sprinkling of sand or gravel prevents the reflection and should reduce stress while allowing you to keep the tank cleaner than if there was a deep gravel bed.
Whether a bowl or a tank, I believe that a clean environment is key - it gives them the best chance to heal.
If he's eating, you may want to try feeding the betta thawed frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or other nutritious foods. Vary his diet so he gets all the vitamins and nutrients he needs to get well.
 
Thank you for your responses... I really appreciate all the help I can get.
He seems to be doing better and his fins are showing little regrowth. He eats well (I feed Hikari Betta BioGold and frozen bloodworms) and does not seem to be uncomfortable with his new tank, although it is bare bottom. He loves to come up to me when I approach the tank.

I will be doing water changes from now on (50% daily) and put in a bunch of floating hornwart... Unfortunately it came with incandescent lighting, so actually plants are out of question. I have tons of hornwart, though, that grows like crazy in my other tanks.

Is this diet OK for him? Anything else I could try?

Is it normal that he likes to play in the current of the filter? He did not do this in his previous home (20G), but ever since I put him into the 10G by himself, he swims up to the filter and lets himself be pushed away by the current.

Again, thank you both for your replies!
 
Sounds good :)
AFAIK, it's perfectly normal (and probably a good sign) for him to play in the current. As long as there's a spot in the tank with lower current, where he can rest if he needs to, he'll be fine. His diet sounds great, and he sounds in good spirits. Keep up the good work, hopefully he'll be better in no time :D
 
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