Chronic Fin Rot Problems

[BettaMomma]

So the way I've been doing things isn't hurting anything?
I'm not creating a caustic ammonia-ish environment by rinsing the gravel??
I just really don't want to create an environment that's bad for my boys.

I have natural colored gravel in my tanks with river rocks and natural looking stuff - and I really like the looks of it I think I'll keep the gravel, I guess.

 

[SRC]

I would just change the water 100% every 3 days and try that..if that doesn't work you can always try a sponge filter . I have some that I've made you can have if you wanted to try a sponge filter...they work quite well

 

[BettaMomma]

I would just change the water 100% every 3 days and try that..if that doesn't work you can always try a sponge filter . I have some that I've made you can have if you wanted to try a sponge filter...they work quite well

OOoh, thanks for the offer
I'll see how they do with the more frequent changes.

Cross yer fingers for me!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi BettaMomma

Cycled or uncycled is not important; what is important is that the water be fresh and clean at all times. I am always telling Newbies this as they rush to cycle their tanks in a big hurry.

Whatever you decide to do, you should be aware that the low oxygen environment that tends to exist in unfiltered tanks, especially ones that don't have very frequent water changes, is exactly the environment in which harmful bacteria thrives.

The best of both worlds is to have a filter that at least moves the surface of the tank slightly. In addition to growing a colony of beneficial bacteria, it will serve to add oxygen which helps to slow the growth of these finrot causing bacteria.

 

[GrullaQuarters]

What about an air pump? Would that help with water quality too? It keeps the water moving...and adds more oxygen to it...

Trying to learn along here!

 

[FishyLoveBug]

I would love to know a little more about gravel vacs as I have never had one.

Also Bettamomma, one thing I havent seen anyone mention is, are you using the same net/ cup with every fish? Are you washing your hands after contact with each one? Its possible you may just be spreading the infection from tank to tank and thats why its not going away. One thing I try is only cleaning one tank a day and letting my "tools" such as my net and such dis infect over night. The next day I do another and repeat the cycle.
Also I know some live foods can carry ich but Im not sure about rot. Is this a possibility?
This is been a great post I didnt know there were beneficial bacterias, but it makes sense. dont know why I didnt think of it lol.

 

[Haiku]

I haven't said much, but I'm learning right along side you BettaMomma. I've felt quite overwhelmed by all the information and learning process, but I'm hoping one of these days, it'll get easier as I know and understand more. I know I've been shining flashlights on these guys, checking them 3 or 4 times before bed, jumping up earlier in the morning than usual and checking them first thing, getting paranoid at the least thing, and so on . My husband probably thinks I'm nuts by now

 

[BettaMomma]

Hi BettaMomma

Cycled or uncycled is not important; what is important is that the water be fresh and clean at all times. I am always telling Newbies this as they rush to cycle their tanks in a big hurry.

Whatever you decide to do, you should be aware that the low oxygen environment that tends to exist in unfiltered tanks, especially ones that don't have very frequent water changes, is exactly the environment in which harmful bacteria thrives.

The best of both worlds is to have a filter that at least moves the surface of the tank slightly. In addition to growing a colony of beneficial bacteria, it will serve to add oxygen which helps to slow the growth of these finrot causing bacteria.

I have decided to start doing water changes every 3 days in all their tanks, so we'll see how that goes. Archie is looking a tad better, but not significantly. We'll see.

Thanks for the helpful advice!

 

[BettaMomma]

I would love to know a little more about gravel vacs as I have never had one.

Also Bettamomma, one thing I havent seen anyone mention is, are you using the same net/ cup with every fish? Are you washing your hands after contact with each one? Its possible you may just be spreading the infection from tank to tank and thats why its not going away. One thing I try is only cleaning one tank a day and letting my "tools" such as my net and such dis infect over night. The next day I do another and repeat the cycle.
Also I know some live foods can carry ich but Im not sure about rot. Is this a possibility?
This is been a great post I didnt know there were beneficial bacterias, but it makes sense. dont know why I didnt think of it lol.

Naah - everything used for one water change is thrown away after each one. I use a solo cup to catch and keep the fish in during the changes. I use paper towels to scrub off the sides of the tank... and I throw all of that stuff out after each fish's water change.

I am a complete freak about keeping things clean, and I wash my hands religiously. I'm 110% sure I'm not passing anything from tank to tank, although that was a good thought.

FYI - I do have airbubblies in some fashion in almost all of my tanks so there is good oxygen and air movement in those tanks. I'm hoping that the more frequent water changes will help solve the problem.

Who know about all this stuff. Jeez.

 

[Inchworm]

I would love to know a little more about gravel vacs as I have never had one.

Also I know some live foods can carry ich but Im not sure about rot. Is this a possibility?
This is been a great post I didnt know there were beneficial bacterias, but it makes sense. dont know why I didnt think of it lol.

Hi FishyLoveBug

Basically, a Gravel Vac is a hose with a larger plastic cylinder at one end. It has no mechanical parts.

http/www.petmeister.com/item879.htm

They come in several sizes, but a small one works just fine. They work by siphoning the debris out of the gravel. This is based on the principle that water flows downhill and once it is filled with water, if one end is lower than the tank, the water will begin to flow out of the tube and gravity will cause it to continue pulling more water out with it. The suction pulls the dirt out as well. All you need to do is push the big end down into the gravel and the dirt will be sucked out and down into your bucket. Then you just refill the tank with dechlorinated water.

You need not disturb or remove the fish from the tank.

Live blackworms are one of the most nutritious foods you can feed a meat eating fish. I have never heard of them carrying ich, and if properly cared for, they will not cause disease. IMHO, the nutrition they provide greatly outweighs the risk.

I have 2 veiltail bettas and they live with my corys in 20 gallon tanks. They eat the same food, (including live worms several times a week) live in the same water conditions which is cycled tanks with a temperature of around 76 degrees F. and they do not get fussed over, ever. They are also active and healthy, and perfectly normal fish.

Edit: I just realized that one of my bettas is actually in a heated tank. This tank is home to bronze and albino C. aeneus corys and is kept at 78 to 80 degrees to keep then from continuously spawning.

 

[veen]

all 3 of my betta tanks are filtered. i have 2 eclipses that came with complete stage 3 filtration (this means sponge filters & biowheels) and the mini bow -- the one with the 2 boys who got into a fight -- has 2 filters (the whisper micro it came with & a pennplax air/bubble filter). if you have the money i would invest in 1 filter for each tank. filters are really beneficial, not necessary i guess, but very beneficial.

i also do water changes every week with my boys still in their tanks. just buy a small gravel vac & siphon all water out except for the amount enough for your boy to still be completely covered. while you are siphoning make sure to vac up the gravel. this sucks up waste and other stuff sitting on the bottom. this way you don't have to take your bettas out then put them back in. i'm sure it stresses them a little to see the vac moving around but i would think it's less stressful than taking them out and putting them back in.

and aren't all your boys rescued from walmart? if so, perhaps they have all had finrot when you got them. as you said, walmart isn't good about its fish treatment. but you are very conscientious about taking care of them so i am sure they'll all improve quickly!

 

[veen]

here's a link to the kind of mini gravel vac i use on my betta tanks:

http/www.petco.com/product_info.asp?fami...26+Vacuums&ct3=

pm me if you have more questions about gravel vacs.

 

[BettaMomma]

and aren't all your boys rescued from walmart? if so, perhaps they have all had finrot when you got them. as you said, walmart isn't good about its fish treatment. but you are very conscientious about taking care of them so i am sure they'll all improve quickly!

Yep, all but 1 of my fish came from WM.
For the most part, yeah, they're all sick when I get them.
BUT... it's not always finrot they have. Sometimes they have beautiful long flowing fins but they're listless or laying on their sides, OR THEY'RE MISSING A TAIL... lol

It just disgusts me how the finrot seems to creep in no matter what I do. I have started doing water changes every 3 days now - we'll see how that goes. I noticed when I got to the office this morning that Charlie made a HUGE bubblenest while I was gone the past 2 days. Maybe that was his easter present to me. heh They all seem to be very happy so I guess something's going pretty right now.

I don't want filters on any of my tanks (except my 10G girly tank) - just seems like it's too much current for the boys and especially since they're all settled into their little non-filtered tanks.

 

[veen]

I don't want filters on any of my tanks (except my 10G girly tank) - just seems like it's too much current for the boys and especially since they're all settled into their little non-filtered tanks.

well, i'm sure that you're doing all you can do with these fish. they're already not in the best of health when you get them so any thing you do for them is already making their lives better. i would guess just continue to treat them, do water changes, keep the temps stable and hope for the best!

 

[BettaMomma]

I try
If sheer TLC could make a fish better, mine would all be in perfect health.