Female Betta - Tail Ailment

This is ONLY my 2 cents, but I have found that aquarium salt or an aloe-based medication (natural) helps give bettas a boost (change the water religiously to filter that stuff back out!).

I would bet 5 cents, however, on the benefits of only feeding 1-3 pellets at a time, not 10. I would bet the same amount on the benefits of water changes. The water changes themselves, if you up the amount for the next month, should be therapeutic to the injury.

Let us know when she feels better! :-)
 
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better photos

OK i got a MUCH better picture of her tail... and the fish that lives behind her that apparently according to some other posts should be deathly ill and isn't...

cydia tail good shot.jpg awesome shot Kenzei.jpg
 
Danggg your upgrade plan sounds awesome. Grouping females together is a whole new freaking ball game. I have a 5 girl sorority and that's considered the minimum.. bleh. I tried a 10 gallon sorority in the past... AGHHHH! I'd seek some advice and do some research on that!

Okay on your female... is her tail supposed to be pink/red? Is the red some kind of sore? I'm not sure if that is finrot.... Either way, until it's figured out, very clean water can only help.

I have heard speculation that aloe vera can harm the labyrinth organ in bettas (and gouramis), but googling it just now brought up nothing. Just an fyi if you didn't know, Melafix is a NO NO for bettas for sure. Aquarium salt may or may not be useful. Using an appropriate dose until the fish gets better probably won't hurt.

And I like your male... no signs of finrot there! He's cute. And nice bubblenest
 
I've talked to missmelis in chat and due to the possibility that it might be columnaris I've suggested she go with an actual antibiotic over Pimafix which she'd already started using. She's mentioned that the dorsal fin is also now showing signs and it doesn't sound like it will resolve itself without the help of medication.

Columnaris (A/K/A Cotton, Flexibacter Columnaris) typically presents on the body as opposed to the fins but atypical infections aren't unheard of.

As soon as she can she'll start treatment with minocycline (Maracyn-2) in a larger tank or rubbermaid container. Although columnaris is a gram negative bacteria and minocycline belongs to the tetracycline family of gram positive antibiotics it's also a synthetic and has been shown to be effective. On top of the antibiotic I've also suggested placing an air stone in with the fish since some medications can reduce dissolved oxygen content. I'd also drop the temperature on (or remove) any heater present. Columnaris multiplies more aggressively above 76F.

Ric
 
Oh no.... columnaris is one thing I'm unfamiliar with... sorry about that! Update us soon!
 
UPDATE: the middle section of her tail fell off.... the part that had the cottony look... im not sure if this is for the better or the worse... i took her out of the tank with the Pimafix in it and is put in a 5 gallon with Macaryn- an anti-biotic and seems a little bit more active...

i would post a pic but she wont stop moving...
 
Best of wishes for you and your sick girl. I hope she gets better soon. :)

You're getting some good help here from these nice folks. It's so nice to have this resource of helpful people with all these varied areas of special experience.:thm:
 
Tail Updated Photo

here is what her tail looks like now... she is still nice and active so im shocked that i actually got a picture lol shes now having fun swimming into the force of the current lol... im hoping these are signs for the better...

cydia tail update.jpg
 
thank you for the well wishes everybody!!! as an update - she is swimming around normally and at currently pushing her banana plant across the bottom of her QT tank haha.... i have all the hopes that she is on the track to recovery... ill keep you posted
 
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