Betta With Fin Rot
- Thread starter kimberly
- Start date
Tetracycline should be used daily and the water should be changed before you re-treat the tank. It will also wipe out filter bacteria as soon as it comes in contact with it.
It sounds to me like the fish is suffering from chemical poisoning and possibly has damaged kidneys or liver. If this is not the case then the fish could be an addict and suffering from withdrawal when you stop using medications. It happens a lot when fish are continuously treated. Their immune system collapses and the fish do well when under medication. However, when the medication is stopped, the fish goes downhill.
Sometimes you have to wean them off the drugs slowly over a couple of weeks. Other times you just get rid of the drugs and let them go through withdrawal.
Drugs like tetracycline & kanamycin should only be used as a last resort and only with some sort of knowledge of how the drug actually works. When they are misused they can cause all sorts of problems including drug resistant bacteria.
Tetracycline & kanamycin are both antibiotics and will only treat bacterial infections. They won't work on fungal infections, finrot being bacterial. You should not mix different drugs or use more than one at a time. The combination of chemicals is often more damaging to the fish than the original disease.
If the fish was treated with tetracycline each day for a week, then it should be free of any bacteria that cause finrot.
The white tips on the fins can be excess mucous from the fish or new fin growth. Most probably excess mucous caused by the overdosing of drugs. When fish are stressed they produce more mucous over their body and fins. This can allow particles in the water to stick to the mucous and resemble spots. It can also make the fish appear cream or look like it is covered in a white film.
In future if you have to treat a fish, try to use fish medications before using human antibiotics. Fish medications are designed for fish and work pretty well when used correctly. Triple Sulpha is a good medication for fish and works well on a variety of things including whitespot, fungus and bacterial infections. It is also less harmful to fish and will not affect the filter bacteria.
It sounds to me like the fish is suffering from chemical poisoning and possibly has damaged kidneys or liver. If this is not the case then the fish could be an addict and suffering from withdrawal when you stop using medications. It happens a lot when fish are continuously treated. Their immune system collapses and the fish do well when under medication. However, when the medication is stopped, the fish goes downhill.
Sometimes you have to wean them off the drugs slowly over a couple of weeks. Other times you just get rid of the drugs and let them go through withdrawal.
Drugs like tetracycline & kanamycin should only be used as a last resort and only with some sort of knowledge of how the drug actually works. When they are misused they can cause all sorts of problems including drug resistant bacteria.
Tetracycline & kanamycin are both antibiotics and will only treat bacterial infections. They won't work on fungal infections, finrot being bacterial. You should not mix different drugs or use more than one at a time. The combination of chemicals is often more damaging to the fish than the original disease.
If the fish was treated with tetracycline each day for a week, then it should be free of any bacteria that cause finrot.
The white tips on the fins can be excess mucous from the fish or new fin growth. Most probably excess mucous caused by the overdosing of drugs. When fish are stressed they produce more mucous over their body and fins. This can allow particles in the water to stick to the mucous and resemble spots. It can also make the fish appear cream or look like it is covered in a white film.
In future if you have to treat a fish, try to use fish medications before using human antibiotics. Fish medications are designed for fish and work pretty well when used correctly. Triple Sulpha is a good medication for fish and works well on a variety of things including whitespot, fungus and bacterial infections. It is also less harmful to fish and will not affect the filter bacteria.
First of all, the moderator in question told me that my fish MIGHT be reacting to the two medications I used (Jungle Fungus Eliminator & Tetracycline). He said the lethargy COULD have resulted from that. But, he also figured my Betta was cured of the illness he had initially because he appeared to look fine in photos. It turns out he was not fine at all. He still had fin rot and this became very apparent once I stopped using medication. At that point his fins began deteriorating rapidly.
I started using Jungle Fungus Eliminator couple of days ago. Within the first day my Betta ate a flake, and he has now regained his appetite and eats normally. He is also active and does not lie on the bottom of the tank anymore. There is a very noticeable improvement and it is very clear that this is due to the medication I am using (Jungle Fungus Eliminator). Also, the moderator suggested Jungle Fungus Eliminator over Tetracycline because it has a broader spectrum and the bacteria is far less likely to develop resistance to it. In any case using the Jungle Fungus Eliminator is working.
I appreciate the fact that you are trying to help, but I don't appreciate all the negativity you have thrown my way (ie. repeatedly telling me in more ways than one that there is no hope).
That phrase was really unnecessary. I'd appreciate if you'd refrain from posting in my thread. I am finding your posts crass and insulting.
My fish is suffering from fin rot. The white tips were in fact eating away at his fins. He had the white tips before I started treating him with medication. He was also lethargic and stopped eating before I started treating him with anything. Within the last week his anal fin began deterioration along with his tail. He is doing well on Jungle Fungus Eliminator (Triple Sulfa did not work). I suspect that it was what helped him in the first place but I did not use it long enough. This time I am NOT using it in conjunction with Tetracycline.
I'd like to note, that when I did use Tetracycline I used half of the recommended dose along with Jungle Fungus Eliminator. Either way, I won't make that mistake again.
I am positive that he has been reacting to an illness not the medication. Thanks for you input.
You have thrown one med after another at him.
When a fish dosn't eat for eight days and on his side no it dosn't sound good.
Meds in the wrong hands can be lethal, for that reason I'm glad there only available through vets and doctors in the uk.
I asked if he was still going to the toilet to see if his organs had packed in.
Glad he on the mend.
When a fish dosn't eat for eight days and on his side no it dosn't sound good.
Meds in the wrong hands can be lethal, for that reason I'm glad there only available through vets and doctors in the uk.
I asked if he was still going to the toilet to see if his organs had packed in.
Glad he on the mend.
Whilst the betta had the fin rot before adding medication, Im in agreement with others that using too many different meds, using several at the same time have probably caused more harm than good. Unless the case of finrot is severe then usually good regular water changes can help immensely, clean water can do wonders for repairing fins, only as a last resort would I use medication.
When you have used one medication, you should perform a 30% (or larger) water change, then add carbon to your filter to remove any traces of the medication before starting with another, too many different chemicals all at once will damage the fish whether it be in the short term during the treatment or leave a sustained weakness to their immune system in the long run. Understandably you were very concerned about your fish, anyone would be, its unfortunate that many different sites/forums give varying advice on different medications, those anwering do not always know the full story/history of the fish and the meds already used and in our attempts to get our fish better, we rush to use anything and everything we can find in a hope of a cure, your not the 1st to do this and its admirable how much time (and money) you obviously spent trying to make him feel better.
Suggestions of euthanazia were given as sometimes its the only option after trying all you can, your fish is worse and obviously struggling, its not meant as a lighthearted 'oh well time to end it' comment, its a last resort and unfortunately is has to be done in this hobby for the sake of the fish. Nobody here would even mention it unless they thought it was the best option.
The reference of the toilet, was in no way meant to cause offensive to you, its a regular question that is asked when trying to establish a form of diagnosis for the fish, often how they are 'pooing' is a good indication of their problem, is the fish poo normal in colour, consistancy etc.
If the medication you are now using appears to be working well, then by all means continue to medicate, if it stops working or the betta stops eating again, the fin rot gets worse, then I would advise you stop the medication and DO NOT use anything else. Your best course of action, would be to increase aeration into the tank, you can do this via an airstone or increasing the flow of the filter outlet (preferably angling this against the side of the tank as bettas do not like strong current) and perform daily 20% water changes to remove the meds, keep the water quality tip top and only try to feed once every few days, fish like us, when they dont feel well do not want to eat, if you continue to keep putting food in that is uneaten it will only dirty the water quality.
The people here have tried their best to advise you in the best way they know how and their advice is invaluable, nothing that was posted was meant to upset you in any way and I hope that the betta recovers well and lives a long healthy life. Good luck, let us know how he is doing and if you need any more help, people here are happy to give up their time to help you.
When you have used one medication, you should perform a 30% (or larger) water change, then add carbon to your filter to remove any traces of the medication before starting with another, too many different chemicals all at once will damage the fish whether it be in the short term during the treatment or leave a sustained weakness to their immune system in the long run. Understandably you were very concerned about your fish, anyone would be, its unfortunate that many different sites/forums give varying advice on different medications, those anwering do not always know the full story/history of the fish and the meds already used and in our attempts to get our fish better, we rush to use anything and everything we can find in a hope of a cure, your not the 1st to do this and its admirable how much time (and money) you obviously spent trying to make him feel better.
Suggestions of euthanazia were given as sometimes its the only option after trying all you can, your fish is worse and obviously struggling, its not meant as a lighthearted 'oh well time to end it' comment, its a last resort and unfortunately is has to be done in this hobby for the sake of the fish. Nobody here would even mention it unless they thought it was the best option.
The reference of the toilet, was in no way meant to cause offensive to you, its a regular question that is asked when trying to establish a form of diagnosis for the fish, often how they are 'pooing' is a good indication of their problem, is the fish poo normal in colour, consistancy etc.
If the medication you are now using appears to be working well, then by all means continue to medicate, if it stops working or the betta stops eating again, the fin rot gets worse, then I would advise you stop the medication and DO NOT use anything else. Your best course of action, would be to increase aeration into the tank, you can do this via an airstone or increasing the flow of the filter outlet (preferably angling this against the side of the tank as bettas do not like strong current) and perform daily 20% water changes to remove the meds, keep the water quality tip top and only try to feed once every few days, fish like us, when they dont feel well do not want to eat, if you continue to keep putting food in that is uneaten it will only dirty the water quality.
The people here have tried their best to advise you in the best way they know how and their advice is invaluable, nothing that was posted was meant to upset you in any way and I hope that the betta recovers well and lives a long healthy life. Good luck, let us know how he is doing and if you need any more help, people here are happy to give up their time to help you.
My fish died today. He was doing really well for 7 days, eating, was active and alert. So the Jungle Fungus Eliminator was helping. But his fins were still deteriorating. The medication brought him back to life and I really thought he would pull through. But he suddenly stopped eating the day before last and was found dead in the morning. The water was tested daily and kept clean. I think whatever he had was just too much and dragging on for too long.
Someone suggested that perhaps from neglect at the petstore or bad genes his body just didn't have the ability to fight off diseases.
I buried him in a box in the yard.
Someone suggested that perhaps from neglect at the petstore or bad genes his body just didn't have the ability to fight off diseases.
I buried him in a box in the yard.
"Using meds to much the fish will build a resistance tup to them."
its not the fish that is building a resistance to the meds, it is the pathogen itself that is building resistance. this is why us humans now have horrid strains of things like TB and staph. due to over prescribing of antibiotics for things and/or not taking the full round of meds (stoping after a few days because you suddenly feel better)
with all the medicating of fish it is suprising that there arent horrific strains going rampant. i know there are very virulent strains of things such as collumnaris and ive been reading about this strange new "black fin rot" that meds wont touch. this is because we are over medicating the fish and the pathogens are developing new more virulent strains as a result of exposure and adapting (eveolving,actually) to antibiotics in particular.
although, wilder, i absolutely agree not to EVER trat for anything unless you know for sure what it is the fish has. will limit the pathogen's exposure to the meds and wont allow for fast propogation of resistant strains.
its not the fish that is building a resistance to the meds, it is the pathogen itself that is building resistance. this is why us humans now have horrid strains of things like TB and staph. due to over prescribing of antibiotics for things and/or not taking the full round of meds (stoping after a few days because you suddenly feel better)
with all the medicating of fish it is suprising that there arent horrific strains going rampant. i know there are very virulent strains of things such as collumnaris and ive been reading about this strange new "black fin rot" that meds wont touch. this is because we are over medicating the fish and the pathogens are developing new more virulent strains as a result of exposure and adapting (eveolving,actually) to antibiotics in particular.
although, wilder, i absolutely agree not to EVER trat for anything unless you know for sure what it is the fish has. will limit the pathogen's exposure to the meds and wont allow for fast propogation of resistant strains.
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