Betta With Fin Rot

[shannin888]

My betta has severe fin rot and tonight is the first I have read about trimmings. What type of blade would you use? Seems painful. Do vets treat fish? Thinking my stomach may not handle this well.

 

[the_lock_man]

For clarity, the OP originally posted this comment in a thread from over a year ago. As members will know, we're not keen on resurrecting old threads, so I have split this post off into this brand new thread.
 
The original thread is http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/435595-trimming-bettas-tail/page-0. Before anyone jumps up and down and screams "CRUELTY", please read this thread thoroughly, and understand all the points of view offered.

 

[NickAu]

Hi shannin888
 
Ok your betta has severe fin rot,
Can you tell us more about your tank and fish please?
 
Tank size?
Is it filtered?
Any tank mates?
How often do you change water?
What water treatment do you use? EG Seachem Prime?
Do you have a heater? What is the temp in the tank?
What are your water parameters? Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate?
 
What have you tried as treatment so far?
 
 
Knowing the answers to these questions may give us some insight into why the fish has finrot in the first place. Finrot is almost always a result of poor water conditions.
If the water conditions in the bettas tank are not 100% pristine then there is no point putting a fish thru that as it will only die from infection and shock.  If the water in the bettas tank is clean and warm and changed regularly then the betta should heal on its own.
 
What you are talking about is a drastic step that should only be done by a veterinarian and only one that specialises in fish, If done correctly by somebody who knows what they are doing ( and remember these people cost money ) and the owner is prepared to keep the water clean and here I do mean clean, and any needed medications are added as needed, Then I see no problem with it if it saves your Bettas life, When to cat is sick we take it to a vet. Ever seen a 3 legged dog? Sure the dog went thru a bit but its alive and happy.

 

[Jeremy180]

If it were me, I'd just set aside some water for testing and just go ahead and do a 50% water change, if you haven't just (as in within 36 hours) done one.
It won't hurt, and there's a good chance it will help