Fins won't heal...

[cutechic]

Alright, I've had my opaque betta for 5-6 weeks, and he's had fin rot almost the entire time. I've tried different treatment methods, but nothing is working. The fin rot is not getting better, but it's not getting worse either.

Stats: 4 gallon tank w/ Penguin Mini Filter
Occupants: 1 betta
Water Params: pH- 6.6 ppm, ammonia and nitrite both 0 ppm, nitrate <10 ppm

Here's how I have been treating him (treatment started two/three days after the fin rot appeared):

Day 1-6: 0.5 tsp of Maracyn every day, with 25% water change on 7th day

Day 8-17: 50% daily water changes (using gravel siphon)

Day 18-24:0.5 tsp of Maracyn every day, with 0.5 capsule of Kanacyn added every second day (as instructed on label)

Day 25-31: 80% daily water changes (using gravel siphon)

Day 32- present: 0.5 tsp of Maracyn every day, with Kanacyn added every second day

Anyone have any ideas what I should do to treat the fin rot? I guess I should have tried to stick with one method, but it's my first time treating fin rot.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Daily water changes with aged water should do it,no need for all those meds. Does it look any better at all or is it getting worse?

 

[cutechic]

After the Maracyn didn't work, I switched to doing daily water changes with no meds. That prevented the fin rot from getting worse, but since it wasn't healing the fins I started using Kanacyn and Maracyn together.

It doesn't look any better or worse at all, the fins have stayed this whole time.

This isn't a good picture, but it shows the extent of the fin rot. The fin rot is primarily on the dorsal fin.

 

[wuvmybetta]

hmmm, I dunno Seem's like you've tried everything you can. Is something in the tank shredding his fins? Does it look like rot or just torn finnage?

Do you have BettaMax?

 

[cutechic]

Yeah, I'm stumped

The only think I have in the tank, other than the sand, filter, and heater, is a flower pot and some live wisteria.

It looks like rot to me because the whole dorsal fin is really jaggedy around the edges.

My regular lfs doesn't carry BettaMax. Let me just call the other one around here... no, they don't have it either. I guess I could go to a not-so-lfs to pick some up.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Let me know if you can't find any. I'll stick a pill in the mail for ya

 

[cutechic]

Thanks wuv. I'll keep you posted.

 

[sweet_tinuviel]

hey ya know ive been going through the same thing with mine too.

Ive been useing the bettamax for months and the finrot diappears and new growth start and the fins grow alot and fast. then as soon as i put him clean water with no bettamax its comes back. so I understand the frustration It just keeps coming back.

I have another betta and I teat him with the same water (i age the water 2 days before i use it then ad the novaqua and amquel) and i change it every 3 days and hes never had a problem with him but the other one just cant shake the fin rot.

if ya find something that works please post cause i could use the help too.

I am going broke on bettamax LOL

 

[cutechic]

Before he got fin rot, I did water changes every other day. But I bought some corys who had fin rot (I didn't realise until the next day) and I couldn't return them, so I began treatment.

Hmm, I'll keep doing water changes and look for Bettamax.

Good luck with your betta, sweet_tinuviel

 

[Inchworm]

Hi cutechic

I'm sorry to hear that you've been having problems with finrot for such a long time. Bacterial infections, which finrot is, can be very persistent. It's not unusual to have to try several different medicines before you hit on the right one for the particular strain of bacteria your fish is infected with. Also, if you do not continue treatment long enough, the bacteria will come back as a strain that is resistant to the medicine you have been using. This is especially true with antibiotics such as kanamycin.

BettaMax is a good product, but since Aquatronics has gone Chapter 11, it is going off the shelves of the lfs. If you can find it, or Kanacyn, I am telling members to buy it and stock up for future needs.

Now, about the disease......... Finrot is caused by Columnaris Flexibacter and when this happens the fish can also develop a secondary infection of Aeromonas. A good course of Kanacyn can cure both, but Maracyn only treats the Columnaris. You need to treat with both Maracyn and Maracyn2 to knock out both of them at the same time.

Since you have had some success with the Maracyn, I suggest you skip a few days to get the water cleared of meds and begin treatment with both products. They are good and should work for you unless a resistant strain has developed. I think it's worth a try since they are respected products. Administer the treatment exactly as prescribed, but if there is any doubt that your fish has been cured, continue it a few days longer. Never stop medicating before the entire course of treatment has been completed.

Good luck. I hope your betta recovers soon.

 

[cutechic]

Thanks Inchworm

I think you're right, I probably didn't continue treatment long enough.

I just called my lfs to see if they still had Kanacyn in stock, but Furacyn is now the only product by Aquatronics that they sell. Unfortunately, I have run out of Kanacyn.

Should I continue using Maracyn I by itself now that I can no longer get Kanacyn at my lfs? Would combining Maracyn I and Maracyn II be more effective?

 

[sweet_tinuviel]

i think ill try the kanacyn.

but i know the dosage is always for larger tanks i only have a half gallon bowl. when i get it what dosage should i use???

Im also going to try daily water changes with bottled water only and the declorinator stuff with the slime coat to kind prep him before i add a different med. maybe that will help too.

sorry to highjack this topic but ive been battleing it since march 29th and im frustrated as heck.

i appreciate all the help and for cute chick to allow me to ask questions too.

its wierd though i first tried the betta fix didnt really work still came back. now ive done the bettamax with one capsule each water change done every four days in his half gallon bowl and the fins grow back and tail gets really long and i finish off the course like it says and with in 2 days in regular water the rot is back so. Any ideas would be greatful.

thanks inch and cute and wuv.

 

[jacblades]

just make a concentrate in a 1 gal jug and figure the maths and pour it in accordingly.