Betta with Fin Rot =(

P

poyster

Registered Member
Aug 7, 2006
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My faitful betta looks like he came down a bad case of fin rot. I noticed a few weeks ago that he wasn't fanning out all his fins as he usually does when I show him a mirror and thought maybe it's due to age. He also seemed bored...sitting in the bottom of the bowl, occasionally going to the surface to get some air. Then I noticed that his fin was kinda disformed, like eaten away. So I think this fits the picture of fin rot.

He's the only fish I have, so there's no other fish to isolate. I got tetracycline and he's been in water with the medicine for about 36 hours. His right fin looks even patchier than before, and now he's mostly floating at the top of the bowl. He still eats well.

I know that the tetracycline treats only bacterial infections. Do you think i should treat him with an anti-fungal as well? I use Poland Spring for the water he's in...thought using tap water and having to condition it would be too difficult.

My poor betta looks so pitiful...is there any chance for him? :sad: When should you see results of the medication? Will my betta eat medicated food or will he snub it? I give him the Hikari Gold. If i get an anti-fungal, are there any good ones? My tank is small-- 1/2 gallon at best. I had been planning to upgrade and add another fish, but this plan's on hold until my fish gets better.

any advice? thx
 
Can you tell us your water test readings for ammonia and nitrite? Finrot is often the result of toxic water. I would not recommend more medication if the problem can be remedied by larger and more frequent water changes.

1/2 gallon is really too small a container for a betta to live in. Because the tank is so small, you need to be changing 1/3 to 1/2 of the water EVERY DAY to keep it from becoming toxic. Unless you're doing this, your betta's finrot is probably water related.

P.S. Spring water is an expensive source of water. Putting a little water conditioner into a bucket of tap water isn't so hard to do, and it's much cheaper than bottled water.

I recommend that you get a larger tank for your betta (2.5 gallons at least) and some good water conditioner ASAP. It would help if the tank had a small filter. If not, you'll need to do daily water changes.
 
If you want a betta to live like a happy king, get a 10 g kit( $50 for filter,heater,lid,net,thermoeter and water conditiner!!+ Sample food) and make it densly planted. He will love it and will live 3+ years. :D ;)
 
A 1/2 gallon bowl is not really a suitable home, and yes, the likely cause of his condition is polluted water.

Get a bigger tank with a proper filter, and make sure you keep that water absolutely pristine with very frequent water changes. I would suggest a five gallon tank at least, if possible, simply because it will be easier to keep water conditions stable. My betta used to live in a 1.5 gallon tank, and, even with a proper filter and bi-weekly water changes, I found it very difficult to keep his water in decent shape. Everything is much better and much easier on both myself and my fish now that he's in a fiver-- he used to get fungusy stuff when he lived in the tiny tank, but I've not seen any of it since he's been moved.

I don't like the idea of using tetracycline. If anything, I would suggest using Melafix, just to help him get over the worst of it. But your key problem is likely your tank, so get that issue resolved, and do it quickly-- you likely won't see much improvement, or have recurring bouts of fin rot until you do.
 
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