Last week, I noticed my betta's fins were somewhat black and were twisted at the end, so I suspected that he has fin rot.
It is the fourth day since I put him into a bigger tank with plants and water circulation.
His fin began to break off the fist day in the tank, but he also looked a lot better (brighter color and the black has faded away) since then.
The only treatment I put in the tank was a little bit salt, no medication.
Can I assume that the breakage is a sign of healing? Just to break away from the rotten fin?
I mean I don't want to use medication if he is just doing fine.
Hi sweejellybean,
I'm not an expert, and hopefully one will be along soon to properly welome you to the forum and offer more experienced advice.
But speaking as a betta owner (who might be right, wrong, or sideways,) I'd suspect that your betta's fins are probably weakened in the area of the rot and more likely to break as a result - especially if he has a more delicate, thinly made fin type.
I don't know how much water circulation you have in his new home, but if the current's too strong, this may also be a factor, and if your betta is hyperactive and enjoying the new room to roam, this also can sometimes show an effect on even healthy finnage.
(Of course his happiness is more important than perfect fins anyway, right?)
If the black has entirely faded away, the odds are good that your betta will now heal rapidly and the fins grow back to their former, pristine beauty, depending on such issues as those mentioned above.
Bettas are, of course, sensitive to medication, and it's good that you prefer to avoid unnecessary treatments: the larger, planted tank, as would be expected, seems from your description to already be improving his condition, and you appear to be carefully monitoring the situation.
Speaking through my hat, as usual, I'd think you're probably conditionally fine, with a continued watchful eye.
But I've only ever had to deal with black finrot just lately, with some new fish, and - if this helps at all - with the new Bettas I used a Melafix/Pimafix combination which, as you probably know (and may very well have,) are natural meds consisting of Tea Tree oil and Bay Tree extract, but I ran low on one and have been using Pimafix, which seems (knock wood) to be working well.
As you may or may not know, these are good meds to have on hand, and if there is a recurrance which salt does not seem to clear, they should be a safe second choice to try.
I'm only a 6 betta girl and this is based on my limited experience, so Those Who Know may produce an entirely diffferent prognosis.
But you certainly appear like a sensible, careful and caring betta owner who seems to me to be doing precisely the right thing.
This edit thing, if I work out how to use it, is handy for complete idiots...
Luckily the expert appeared before my bad advice printed out - I'd assumed the black clearing meant the problem was likely going away - so both of my new boys are still at risk, too...
Sorry, Sweejellybean, but at least my error didn't lead you wrong as well.
