Does My Betta Have Fin Rot?

[saltinesjunkie]

His fins seem to be frayed at the tail, and whitish. Also, there are red streaks on his body. I'm not sure if he has natural red streaks, though, because he's a red and purple betta... Please help. I'm new at this. =p Also, what medications should I use to treat fin rot if he has it? I'm sorry I can't provide a picture- no camera.

 

[Cdarmychi]

a pic would be very helpful ur phone maybe?...also your water stats

 

[saltinesjunkie]

Well, with water stats, I only have an ammonia testing thing. It said I was fine with that- also I changed around 15 percent of the water in my tank today.

I don't have the picture uploading cord thing... I can try asking if I can get the pic uploading thing, but I doubt it. =/

 

[loraxchick]

what exactly is "fine" for your ammonia levels, and is it a liquid test or strips?

 

[saltinesjunkie]

what exactly is "fine" for your ammonia levels, and is it a liquid test or strips?

Strips. It had a color a tiny bit darker than the yellow, which is 0 ammonia.

 

[Cdarmychi]

anything above 0 is bad. so if im right in thinking "alittle bit darker then yellow" means NOT zero, then thats not quite as fine as it should be.

But also to keep in mind is that those strips are inaccurate. The liquid kits are what you want.

Luckily, Christmas is right around the corner Cause you need the liquid kit.

I dont want to suggest a treatment, beacause I really dont have enough info. But right now, your ammonia needs to go down.

 

[loraxchick]

strips are notoriosly inaccurate as they have a short "shelf life"...do a 40%water change and use decholorinator and match the temp roughly wiht your hand before adding back to the tank. see if that helps.

 

[Syphoniera]

Honestly, if his tail appears to be frayed and whitish, it might not hurt to add a bit of salt pre-dissolved in water and (the natural antifungal) Pimafix, if you have any, while you're waiting to find out for sure.
That and trying to determine if the red streaks are an infection that requires emergency aid or just colouration.

Although white edges can be regrowth of damaged finnage, the frayed aspect does give one pause.
And the short-term use of salt and Pimafix, without being as toxic as most anti-fungals, may help to slow or halt the progress of any fungus, should this be the case, and not be harmful, in any event.

Granted, I'm a little paranoid, having a betta suffering from a horrible black fungus, but while one doesn't want to randomly medicate, one doesn't want to leave a potential problem to get worse eiher.
There is an emergency forum for sick fish, and f you could post there and get the advice of someone highly knowledgeable like Wilder, any such issue could likely be identified and dealt with more rapidly.

 

[saltinesjunkie]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Syphoniera]

Good luck and hope your fish is/gets well - and that you let us know how things are going.

 

[saltinesjunkie]

I just came back from school and found that he's made a bubble nest. =D Does that mean it's likely he's not sick?

 

[Syphoniera]

I just came back from school and found that he's made a bubble nest. =D Does that mean it's likely he's not sick?

No, unfortunately, it's no guarantee of perfect health.
How does he look now, since it's been a few days?
Do his fins appear to be better or worse?
Do the red streaks appear to be pigmentation?
Because if it is infection, that's a very serious sign.
And if there is a problem, I hope one of the experts will step in with advice.

 

[tibby25731]

Hard to say without a pic, but I would be tempted to dose with anti internal bacteria meds as they will cure fin rot and are pretty good with most infections too.