Fin Rot

Liz

Liz

AC Members
Mar 25, 2005
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Hey, I hope you don't mind me posting in this forum, it's about my betta but the anabantoid section doesn't get as many replies I don't think. I bought my betta when my tank (5.5 gallon) was pretty much completely cycled, and soon after I began using algae-killing drops that i think killed my bacteria in my filter. So I started to get ammonia readings, and my crowntail betta's fins began to curl at the tips of the rays. Now the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all consistently test negative (probably because I got some new plants, incl. a dwarf lily that is growing like crazy), but my betta has, I believe, fin rot. The curls at the tips of his fins are gone, and the tips are covered in a whitish film. So I went to petsmart and saw that there were antifungals for tail rot, and antibiotics for fin rots. I bought Jungle Fungus Clear tabs that is advertised as treating both fungal and bacterial causes of illnesses, including both fungal and becterial fin rot. Basically, I want to know if this will work. And I also want to know if his fins will grow back in like they were before they curled.

Thanks for your time.
 
the jungle tabs are ok. there is a brand out there called aquarium pharmacuticals (not sure if spelled right) it costs a little more but it deff works. you could also try using aquarium salt that will also help. the fins might grow back i am not sure with bettas, but with my fish they did. good luck
 
I also found some old fish zole lying around the house, it has metronidazole (sp?) in it. I know this is used in people for bacterial infections, even though the particular product is indicated for parasites. I'm also seeing some stuff though that it helps with finrot. Any idea if this would help? I also found some melafix. Could I dose with all three? as far as I know they all contain different ingredients. Also think i have some aquarium salt maybe.
 
I would not medicate until you KNOW the betta needs it. Also, there are many meds that can not be used on betta fish. I would try making sure the tank is pristine by doing daily water changes for a couple of weeks to see if that helps. It is amazing the ability these fish have to fix fin issues them selves. What size tank is he in? What filtration? Tankmates? Parameters? Water change schedule? If you could get a picture of the betta's fins it will help for us to better determine if it is a case of fin rot that needs medicating and which meds to use.
 
He is in a 5.5 gallon tank. I have an aquaclear HOB on the tank. No tankmates, paramaters consistantly read 0, 0, 0 pH is about 7.2. I change the water about once a week. I can't take pictures of him right now, wouldn't be able to have pictures up until next weekend.
 
i wouldnt add any more chemicals to your tank. it sounds to me like your betta is having an adverse reaction to the algaecide you put in the tank, so do lots of water changes and his fins should start to heal.

unfortunately this is one of the reasons 99% of people here, including myself, will recommend against adding chemicals to your tank that are unneeded, especially ones that kill algae.
 
When you mentioned whitish film on his fins, is it fuzzy or no? The reason I ask is many times where the fins are growing back will have a white look to them, but not fuzzy. This is why I asked for a picture. I would up your water changes and see. I had a cory cat that completely lost his tail and 3 weeks of 50% daily water changes allowed him to grow a new one. Now if the bettas fins are so deteriorated that there is no rays left, then it may not grow back, otherwise it should.
 
I was adding a good deal of the blackwater/softening treatments because the pH was high, it was shortly after that I noticed that his fins were eroding. It seemed to me though from reading the bottle that I couldn't overdose on it. I would have read up but I don't have internet access during the week.

edit: it's just the curls ta the tips of the rays that are gone, and it's a whitish film but not really fuzzy.

edit edit: ugh, I screwed it all up, didn't I :( and I can't do anything about it until sunday when I go back to the place I'm staying (I'm at my parents' house on weekends).
 
If it were me, I would quit adding anything but a declorinator to the tank. Fish can adapt to the ph and an algae scraper can do away with glass algae. Limit the photo period of your lights on the tank to help with algae also. And do lots of h2o changes until his fins heal.
 
I use spring water. I'll pick some up on Sunday when I go back and do some water changes for a week or two, see what happens. But some melafix wouldn't hurt to help repair the fins though, right? No chemicals in that, right?
 
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