Fin Rot! (on A Budget)

[Yuki_of_the_Stars]

Tank size: About 3/4 gallon.
pH: Not quite sure, but I have made a recent water change.
ammonia: Same.
nitrite: Same.
nitrate:
kH: Same.
gH: Same.
tank temp: I'd say about 60 degrees.

Fish Symptoms: For about a week my prized Beta fish Kakashi has been suffering. He doesn't move around a lot, about 60% of his top fin has rotted away, and the water gets cloudy real quick. As in the next day after change.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: Once a week when healthy, twice a week if sick.

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Less than half a teaspoon of aquarium salt, some Beta Basics solution (rids the tank of chemicals).

Tank inhabitants: My Beta fish.

Recent additions to your tank: A stalk of bamboo.

Exposure to chemicals: I wouldn't be entirely sure...

I'm a sixteen year old girl trying to save my third Beta. From what I've observed of other colorings of beta, his is fairly rare. Because of a recent move, I didn't have time to change my tank, so I know that was the start of the fin rot. But the first chance I got, I changed both his and my other Beta's bowl, making sure both where clean. Haku (my other beta) is doing just fine, in fact he's looking better than ever. But Kakashi's bowl just keeps getting all cloudy. And even after changing the bowl, and giving him a pellet or two of food, he just hangs in the tank.

Please help! I'm desperate!

 

[hollyp0p]

where are you from....will help us decide what meds are available to you, or other suggestions!

 

[Yuki_of_the_Stars]

I am currently living in the New England Area, and the only BIG place that sells any sort of fish medication is Petco. I am really short on cash, though, and I won't be able to get any sort of expensive meds for my poor Kakashi.

 

[hollyp0p]

I am currently living in the New England Area, and the only BIG place that sells any sort of fish medication is Petco. I am really short on cash, though, and I won't be able to get any sort of expensive meds for my poor Kakashi.

Just looking on Petco's website....you can go with maracyn one and 2, or maybe one or the other, they've meant to be very good!
Also tetracycline powder, gel tek penicillin (which is for feeding to your fish) or gel tek ampicillin.

If you really can't afford meds, adding a little aquarium salt should help, or doing a stronger salt dip, this may not halt the fin rot as quickly as you need though.....and you need to stop it before it reaches his body, else the fin will never regrow, which causes fish deaths.

 

[Yuki_of_the_Stars]

I really hope it doesn't come to that... I've already lost two beta to various diseases. One I believe was albino.

I really hope just keeping the water clean will work. But why does it keep on getting cloudy? I'm doing another full water change today, and I removed the bamboo shoot last night, but it's really annoying the snot out of me.

 

[hollyp0p]

I really hope it doesn't come to that... I've already lost two beta to various diseases. One I believe was albino.

I really hope just keeping the water clean will work. But why does it keep on getting cloudy? I'm doing another full water change today, and I removed the bamboo shoot last night, but it's really annoying the snot out of me.

what does your betta live in....is it filtered and heated??
When you've put in 'same' for your water stats what does that mean?
You need to get the water tested witha kit and put the actual levels down, it may well be your water, and it's cloudiness taking it's toll on your fish!

 

[mav8989]

Our Petco's in Pennsylvania carry Maracyn and Maracyn 2 --- you could also look at some Mela-fix... but depending on how bad things are you might just want to hit the problem better with the Maracyn. I bought Maracyn recently and it was less than $5 a pack (maybe 6 tablets) --- I needed a ton of tablets for a 65 gallon tank - but you should be fine with a single pack - which will get you through a full course of treatment. A decent sized bottle of Mela-Fix is under $9.00, but you might want to follow the advice about the Maracyn.

Is this tank/container at room temperature or are you heating it? Cloudy water can be a bunch of things but there are some things that can be ruled out...

Hope the fishy is getting better....

 

[Yuki_of_the_Stars]

Alrighty, now that I'm back in my abode...

When I said same, I mean I don't have the means to test them. I don't have an allowance, a job, and my mom dissaproved of me getting Beta fish in the first place. I don't heat the water, although I know I really should. After observing him a bit more, it seems like he's better now that the bamboo stalk is out of the tank. ...I really need a bigger tank...

My baby. Resolution ain't the best, but I'll describe what you can't see. His fins have darker red spots on them, which I have never seen on any other Beta. Kind of looks like blood, if you ask me.

The rot spots are on his top fin, there is a good chunk missing. Normally you can't see this, because he never keeps his fins spread for long.