Fins Clamped? Help Please!

[marlie]

Hi

I have a SD betta who seems lovely and healthy, but recent i think his fins have become clamed. They have gone into what I consider a 'spade shape' (like you see in spade tails. Sorta like this =>

What can i do to help him. I just did water stats and the numbers are

Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 5
PH - 7.8

These stats have been constant since the tank was set up to my knowledge.

Recent additions have been a shoal of cory Habrosus, but this was over a week ago now. He seems to get on fine with them, chases them around sometimes but they are much too fast and he never attacks them. They often swim in front of his face or lie on him when hes on the bottom and he seems fine!

Please help!

Martha xxxx

 

[Netty]

Hi Marlie........what temp is your tank?

 

[Colin_T]

If the water quality and temperature are ok then it is probably skin parasites. If you have access to "Waterlife Protozin" that should clear it up. Be careful using it in tanks with catfish and loaches as it can knock them about. The directions should say to use it at half dose for scaleless fishes (catfish, etc).

To work out the volume of water in the tank
measure Length x Width x Height in cm
divide by 1000
equals volume in litres

When measuring the height, measure from the top of the gravel to the top of the water level. If you have big rocks or driftwood in the tank, remove them before measuring the height.

Remove carbon from the filter before treating otherwise it will absorb the medication out of the water.

 

[marlie]

Netty, the temp is 28 c

And thanks Colin, i shall invest in some!

 

[Netty]

That's fine for him but keep a close eye on your new corys cos they don't like warmer temps. When Strudel had this first we increased aereation in the tank and also showed him the mirror to excerise him regularly a few times every day. Eventually his fins opened up again. Not sure when you say clamped, do they look like they are stuck together?

 

[marlie]

I should try and get a pic but hes a pain in the bum to photograph.

His top fin and bottom fin are fine (dorsal and anal?) it is only his caudal? fin which is changed. Whereas is is usually the sort almost half moon shape, it looks like it is stuck together, he almost looks like a veiltail with a spade tail edge... Like this, but a third of the size

http/www.bellaonline.com/misc/rateme/pho...5/photo2090.jpg

I have also put the temp down to 26 for the cories now.

 

[Netty]

Ok.....sounds like the beginning of sticky fins. Strudels looked like a clump of hairs that had been twisted around. I would keep up with frequent water changes, aereation, melfafix and mirror excercise.....no salt cos the corys don't like it. See how you get on and keep us up to date. Good luck and hope it sorts itself out. It did take quite a few weeks for Strudel's to eventually unravel so be patient to

 

[marlie]

Ok.....sounds like the beginning of sticky fins. Strudels looked like a clump of hairs that had been twisted around. I would keep up with frequent water changes, aereation, melfafix and mirror excercise.....no salt cos the corys don't like it. See how you get on and keep us up to date. Good luck and hope it sorts itself out. It did take quite a few weeks for Strudel's to eventually unravel so be patient to

Got a picture! Hope this confirms what you think or, lets you knw what it really is, sorry if the pics are no help, glare plus silly betta makes it hard!

 

[Netty]

Yes that's how Strudel's started. Other than that he looks fine

 

[marlie]

Ah good. I have melafix on hand so I've just started a course of that. Changed the temp to 26 for the corys. Will they be okay with the melafix?

Any reason why this happens with bettas?

 

[Netty]

The Corys will be fine with Melafix. Not sure why it happens....maybe he got a little stressed when his new room mates arrived Some people say it's water quality but ours has always been fine and we've always done regular water changes and tested the water.

 

[marlie]

The Corys will be fine with Melafix. Not sure why it happens....maybe he got a little stressed when his new room mates arrived Some people say it's water quality but ours has always been fine and we've always done regular water changes and tested the water.

Same here the water stats are always perfect. had a nitrite spike about 2 months ago i think, but thats been all...

 

[Netty]

That may have triggered something too.......it's really strange and seems to happen very quickly!!!!

 

[marlie]

That may have triggered something too.......it's really strange and seems to happen very quickly!!!!

yeah its been overnight. Ah well, i shall keep you posted.

Chips is also doing well by the way hes such a cutie, cant wait to see what he turns into!

 

[Netty]

Glad to hear little Chips is doing ok.......you'll have to get loads of pics as he develops. Has he changed much since you found him