what it might be...with their fins

E

ele

AC Members
Nov 27, 2005
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Couple of days ago, I noticed a rounded hole at the center of the one of the pectoral Raphael's catfish fins. Today, both pectoral fins are split and look like somebody used not sharp scissors to cut them in different places from the end to where it starts to grow. Also, I noticed, one of my rainbows has one, not deep, cut on its caudal fin. I compared mines with pictures of the fin rot...am not sure if it is looks alike. fin rot starts from the end, the edges of the fins moving to the fish's body, isn't it? ...or it might be my pictus catfish who hardly bite them.

Raphael is hiding all the time, but i try to take his picture


Thank you

I have 40g. tank
ph 7.8
amonia, nitrates, nitrites = 0

2 pictus catfish
3 small rainbow,
1 raphael catfish
1 buldog catfish
 
Fin rot can start at the end of the fins, but it will also occasionally start just as you've mentioned; as a hole in the fin that slowly eats it's way outward.

It's possible that they just tore their fins on something also.

Fin rot is most commonly caused by stress due to bad water conditions. If you do regular water changes, try doubling the frequency for a while. You can also look at medicating the fish (fin rot is a bacterial infection)
 
Thank you for the reply!

I started to adding salt in the morning when i had no clue what it is(now i have 9 tablespoons in 40 gallons). then, I read that melafix can help. today everything is closed...
can I use melafix with salt in the tank?
do you have any suggestions how to treat it, maibe with another medications?
 
my betta had fin rot, and I used salt to cure it.
 
could you give me more details about salt treatment:
how much salt did you use and for how long...maybe anything else
 
heheh... IDK. Ididn't raise the temp, just added some salt and it went away in about a week.
 
In the case of Fin rot, I doubt salt has any significant effect in healing it. Generally speaking, cleaner water is all it takes to cure a mild case.

Melafix can help, being a (albeit mild) anti-bacterial. I wouldn't go overkill on the salt, as you're not trying to kill a parasite like ich. Increasing the temp will be hit or miss. It will speed up his metabolism, which means his immune system will work faster, but it will also promote better growth for the bacteria. So if he starts getting noticable worse with the increased temp, I'd drop it back down and start a serious Anti-bacterial med.

Otherwise, keep up the water changes, little salt and mela won't hurt, and watch what happens. His fins will stop getting worse in a few days if your treatment is having any affect at all, but it may take up to a month to start regrowth.
 
how much melafix should i add? the whole dose or maybe less?
Also I will do frequent water changes and hope it gets better.
 
is it ok to add melafix having salt (26 table spoons in 40g) or it is better to do big water change before
 
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