Finrot or Tail biter?

DieselJunki

DieselJunki

The Tomboy
Aug 20, 2009
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USA
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I have had this betta for a couple weeks now and now his beautiful tail has either bite marks or fin rot. He is in a planted 3gallon eclipse with a root tab under the amazon sword plant. I have started bettafix treatment as of a couple of days ago. My next step if I do not see improvement will be salt baths. If it is finrot I read that it can be caused by several gram negative bacteria and if this is finrot what medication can I get to eradicate it if any? If it happens to be bite marks I have no clue why he is doing this =/. Please see picture and tank params below. Sorry the picture isn't all that great.

IMG_0156.jpg


Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0 but it kind of looks like it could be a little of 5.0 too.
Ph - 7.4-7.6
Not 100% on what my Ph test really is. I use the Low Range Ph test and it reads 7.6, but if I use the High Range Ph test is reads 7.4...
Temperature - 83*, I know this is a tad warm but even with the lights off it doesn't get much lower then this. I have the lid on his tank propped up to let in more air in hopes it will cool down a little. I do not have his heater plugged in although I do have one for the tank incase.

So I know this is wrong.... This means my cycle hasn't even started yet but I've had him for a couple weeks and seeded his tank heavily with pieces of filter media from my 10gallon, so how can this be?

:huh:
 
Looks like finrot to me.

Also I heard that bettafix/Melafix (same chemical just Bettafix is more watered down but when you add a full dose it is the same amount as a full dose of Melafix) might be harmful/deadly to anabantoids such as Bettas. So I would take him off of the Bettafix immediatly just to be on the safe side.
 
Ok I'll do a water change and take him off the meds. I will do salt baths instead since I hear that it's cured finrot before on some bettas. If it doesn't improve is there a more powerful drug that I could give such as Maracyn 2?

jpappy - How much and how often do you recommend I change his water?

He is my second betta ever that has had finrot although I am closely watching my double tail betta aswell since he kind of looks like he has it but I'm not 100% sure and it is impossible to get pictures. My first betta I was treating with bettafix but he ended up getting dropsy before I could cure him and that was before I knew what dropsy even was =/.
 
Looks like fin rot. How often are you changing the water and what kind of water conditioner are you using? I have a betta in a 2.5 gallon that is getting 1 gallon changed out daily (water treated with Amquel Plus - it takes out everything). In 2 weeks he has 3-4 mm of fin regrowth. With pristine water you shouldn't need meds.
 
You could use maracyn and maracyn 2 together if it gets to that point.

The medicine comes in little packets of powder, each packet treats ten gallons. To divide up the packet you need to dissolve it in a known amount of water (I use a measuring cup for this) and then divide the water with the medicine dissolved up into the amount you need to treat the tank. You can't just divide up the powder because it is not accurate that way.

But like others have said I would try giving him the cleanest water you can give him before you start the meds.
 
Unfortunately a lot of LFS bettas have fin and tail rot, as a result of living in such small, dirty cups. I would do as the others have suggested, and start off with frequent water changes. My last Betta had terrible fin and tail rot, and eventually I did have to medicate him, as he was in such terrible shape. But you will probably notice improvement just with the water changes. Good luck, he's the same color as my last betta. I bet he is very handsome. :)
 
lilcavy2 - I change 50% of the water every week, well before the finrot. Prime is my water conditioner.

Jspigs - I will order both those medicines just incase it gets to that point. I will keep in mind about the dosing... Unfortunately I'm not so hot at math and all that measuring stuff so I would have no clue what to add after I had it mixed but when it comes to that I'll ask if someone can really help me with that part.

finsNfur - He is a very handsome betta which is why I'm so sad that he has finrot. Not that I would love him any less of course! I will keep doing frequent water changes. Currently I'm doing 25% everyday. I'm hoping I see improvement soon.
 
I"t does appear to be finrot, I thought my betta had it also but he was just slicing his fins on some sharp plants in his tank. As for the Melafix, there are rumors going around that it is harmful to bettas and other Anabantiods and I dont recommend it at the time. I would try a little aquarium salt and water changes. Also, I recommend API Stress Coat to help his tails regrowth. I use it in my tank as I water conditioner and I love the stuff.
 
Regarding: "This means my cycle hasn't even started yet but I've had him for a couple weeks and seeded his tank heavily with pieces of filter media from my 10gallon, so how can this be? :huh:"

I reread your original post and it appears that you have two issues here, really. Your are trying to cycle a tank and cure a fish of finrot. I don't see how you can do the two together. You need ammonia to start cycling the tank and any ammonia level is going to aggravate the fin rot. A fish has to be in excellent health to stay completely healthy through a tank cycle. If it is at all possible to transfer the betta to a smaller container that can have 75-100% of the water changed daily, that will give you the pristine conditions you need to cure the fish. Then you can go back to cycling the tank so when the fish is cured, he can live there. If you don't see any improvement, that is what I would do.
 
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