spidey
New Member
Hi all,
I'm really worried about my Betta, Captain Jack. I got back from my week long hols having stupidly switched my central heating off, thinking that the tank heater would be fine. But when I returned, the water was down to 20 degrees and the heater wasn't on. I switched the central heating back on and turned the heater's thermostat up so it would heat up to a good 26 degrees, then turned it back to normal and it seems to have been steady since then. However, I immediately noticed that my Betta's fins were now ragged and slightly curled in at the ends!
I read up and because there seemed to be no fungus or slime or anything, possibly incorrectly took on board a suggestion that it could be internal bacteria causing fin rot, and got some anti internal bacteria meds, tonic, and did a decent water change (50%). My ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were all fine, though my tank is too alkaline (PH 8) - I've been unable to get that down - but my Betta had seemed absoutely fine until that day I got back from my holiday. In fact, he still seems fine in himself - with activity, food etc, but even though I've now given him the recommended second dose of the internal bacteria meds, plus done another smaller water change (35%), his fins are now worse. I had thought they had stopped shredding this week - but tonight now I've come home from work they are suddenly bad. Here are the best pics I could get, as he won't stay still!
It's now about 6 days before I can try the anti fungal fin rot meds instead for him according to the interpet instructions, and I don't know what else to do.
Please help!
Edit: He's on his own in a 7 gal tank with a filter too, real plants, some bogwood and a rock (I'm not sure if this may be causing the PH problem), and is fed on frozen bloodworms etc.
I'm really worried about my Betta, Captain Jack. I got back from my week long hols having stupidly switched my central heating off, thinking that the tank heater would be fine. But when I returned, the water was down to 20 degrees and the heater wasn't on. I switched the central heating back on and turned the heater's thermostat up so it would heat up to a good 26 degrees, then turned it back to normal and it seems to have been steady since then. However, I immediately noticed that my Betta's fins were now ragged and slightly curled in at the ends!
I read up and because there seemed to be no fungus or slime or anything, possibly incorrectly took on board a suggestion that it could be internal bacteria causing fin rot, and got some anti internal bacteria meds, tonic, and did a decent water change (50%). My ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were all fine, though my tank is too alkaline (PH 8) - I've been unable to get that down - but my Betta had seemed absoutely fine until that day I got back from my holiday. In fact, he still seems fine in himself - with activity, food etc, but even though I've now given him the recommended second dose of the internal bacteria meds, plus done another smaller water change (35%), his fins are now worse. I had thought they had stopped shredding this week - but tonight now I've come home from work they are suddenly bad. Here are the best pics I could get, as he won't stay still!
It's now about 6 days before I can try the anti fungal fin rot meds instead for him according to the interpet instructions, and I don't know what else to do.
Please help!Edit: He's on his own in a 7 gal tank with a filter too, real plants, some bogwood and a rock (I'm not sure if this may be causing the PH problem), and is fed on frozen bloodworms etc.
