fin rot and bettafix

[betta boy]

ok, I think my Betta has fin rot. the "webbing" part on one of his fins is vanishing but the spines are still there. will bettafix work? is there anything I can do right now to help him like add salt or increase the temp?

[snyper564]

From http://aquariumpharm.com/products/Product.aspx?ProductID=79
All natural antibacterial medication for Bettas. For use on wounds, ulcers, mouth fungus and fin and tail rot. Use whenever Bettas exhibit signs of bacterial or fungal disease, such as red ulcers, frayed or torn fins, slimy patches or cottony growths. Also helps heal open wounds and tissue damaged by handling, netting and fighting. Promotes rapid re-growth of damaged fins and skin. Contains the healing power of Melaleuca, a variety of Tea Tree.

Sounds like it will work just give it time before changing meds and remember NEVER EVER MIX MEDS once cured add carbon to the filter to remove the remaining meds and then dump the carbon

[Vis]

Do not know bettafix but sounds like it can work.
Most inportant thing is to get rid of the source of the fin rot, the water.
Do a big water change and then use the meds.

What I did with mine was to change almost all the water everyday and dose again.
But this was in a small hospital tank.

Make sure to follow the directions on the bottle.
You can slow the finrot down with some aquarium salt.

[Kel-Sol]

I read that bettafix is very dangerous if you overdose it so it's important to remove the remaining meds.
Increasing the temperature will also help. Also it's contagious so keep your betta away from the others until he's healed properly.

[snyper564]

What I forget at the time to mention is that antibacterial meds effect ur filter bacteria as well someone just needs to clarify how to handle this if u need safe start or something like that to add them to the filter again. I'm not 100% sure what to do so can someone shed some light on this

[betta boy]

ok so from what I gathered is:
1 water change every day
2 add salt
3 dont mess up the dosage
4 up the temp

[betta boy]

thanks guys, wish me luck. if he dies my girlfriend is gonna kill me, he's our "first kid" as she puts it.

[Vis]

Hi B !oy if you are going to use meds leave the salt.

[betta boy]

ok, meds are already in so i'll leave the salt. how long do you think it'll take to see an improvment?

[snyper564]

U should see the fin rot stopping within the next day or so but it takes about a month to fully recover

[betta boy]

fantastic, I some how think this sponge filter isnt doing anything. might change to a box filter and seed it with floss from my main tank's canister filter

[Kel-Sol]

Please can you give us an update on how your betta is doing, Betta-boy....

[betta boy]

ok so I just checked him out, he's hyper by nature, I cant really tell if the "webbing" is getting better or if the spines just broke off. he's not showing any signs of a sick fish other than his tail looking horrid. i was up researching all night and im gonna steralise the whole tank add a bit of salt and keep the Betta fix going. im also gonna get another heater, this jap import thing I've got now turns on and off every 5 min's. all's looking well though

[Kel-Sol]

That's good to hear, Bettaboy. Glad things are going better!

[Sean J]

Is he still eating? If he is, then he should be ok. If he isn't, then you may have a problem. A strong fish is one that eats.

[betta boy]

I just fed him, and he still wants more lol.

[Zoom]

The Jap import heaters are not the greatest, but I can confirm that with the weather we are having at the moment, most heaters will be working very hard.

[snyper564]

be careful with regards to the heater remember its getting colder now which mean this: The room temp is say 15+ degs and the tank needs to be say 24 the heater will switch on when it drops below the required temp say 22 or 23 the problem when it gets colder in winter is that the water heats up to the req temp and the heater switches off but the water cools down alot quicker as well this could mean every 5 min. If your temp is stable then your heater is working i wouldnt change it its really the weather not your heater this could mean that in a few weeks time that ur heater will litrally stay on the entire time. i hope ur betta gets better all the best

ah zoom you beat me to it :)

glad to hear he is eating like that

[betta boy]

I've got a heater in my room that that keeps me at a constant temp, like a betta I dont do well with cold, so im sure its just the heater. while all the top guns are around, what can I replace the spongue filter with? do boxes work well enough? cause that spongue is taking up a 3rd of the tank lol.

[Zoom]

Get a small internal filter, or a Hang on Back filter if you can modify the hood at all to accomodate one.

[betta boy]

the hood needs a good chop up for the cables anyway. and I think i've still got my hob from my broken tank. it wont suck his fins in or anything like that right?

funny how my 1ft tank is giving me more headaches than my 360L. this drip system better work out lol.

[Sean J]

funny how my 1ft tank is giving me more headaches than my 360L. this drip system better work out lol.

It's not funny at all actually... The smaller the tank, the quicker the parameters can shift and cause havoc! It's way more difficult to keep a smaller tank than a big one.

Bettas, in general, don't mind cooler temps. In fact they do better and live longer in cooler water. Obviously the water mustn't be too cold, but around 20 - 23 degrees is perfect for them.

Have you got any plants in the tank? Live plants will help with making the fish nice and comfy, and also absorb nitrates. {blacklested} is particularly good at absorbing ammonia.