How To Do Salt Bath For Finrot? Help!

[hollyp0p]

I've posted in emergency section too, today my betta's tail is sort of better on lower half but has receded further on top half.....here are water stats and info:

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Tank size: 45 litres
pH: 7.2 (this has stayed the same from the beginning and has not before affected anyone)
ammonia: below 0.25.....near to 0 but not sure 100% if it is 0
nitrite:0
nitrate: around 5 ppm
tank temp: currently 25 degrees celcius

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% every week, though added melafix and aquarium salt last night and intend to keep doing daily with melafix unless better solution

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: melafix since yesterday to treat and aquarium salt

Tank inhabitants: 1 male betta, 4 zebra danios, 5 tetra and a newly purchased pitbull plec (i think the cause)

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): pitbull pleco


Digital photo (include if possible):

The state of my bettas tail is no worse today on bottom, infact sort of looks better, but the top half has recded to about half way up his tail......is treating with melafix and daily 25% water changes with aquarium salt ok??
Also can anyone tell me how you do a salt bath for the betta, and whether maybe I should get him a floating tank part to keep him seperate and his water completely clean???

 

[hollyp0p]

Odin is currently enjoying a salt bath in the bucket.....using 1 gallon of water with 1 tsp of salt.....found the directions in an older thread on here.....found anotherthat said 4 tbsp of salt though but that seems extreme to say the least as you don't even put 4 tbsp in ym tank size!

 

[ibbledibble]

i think that its supposed to be 1tsp if its going into the tank permenantly, and Tbsp if its a short salt bath. but i don't use salt so don't quote me on that

 

[hollyp0p]

i think he's still getting worse....at the rate its been going it could be at his body by 2morrow night
I don't know what else to do, if its getting worse still 2morrow i will buy a floating trap and have him in seperate clean water by himself with a little salt.

 

[hollyp0p]

Odin update:

Yesterday was the worst day so far his tail is now about 1/2 missing in some parts sad.gif I feel so bad for him, even though he is still acting normal, slightly less parading around than before.
But this morning the loss seemed to have slowed a great deal, and over the course of the day I'm not sure he lost anymore.....hopefully it's halting/ed!!!!!!

I spoke to the aquatics guy where I worked and as alot of other ppl told me, melafix won't be curing it, I think the salt bath I gave him last night might have helped....and he's just had another for nearly 30 mins with more salt today too (1tbsp for 1 gallon)....anyway yeah I was advised because I am sure the fin rot is bacterial because it came with a new fish or his water (not sure which).....to buy some pimafix to treat alongside the melafix, which upon reading a few places seems like it could be the answer *fingers crossed*

Odin so far is not bothered by the melafix......and since adding the pimafix also....none of my fish babies seem bothered

so yeah......hopefully it will now halt......and healing can continue!

Also if/when healing starts.....how long should i continue using melafix for?...how much growth??

 

[hollyp0p]

Next Odin update....the finrot has slower right down, he lost a little tiny bit yesterday off his lower fin, i think maybe due to stress at the 50% water change i did yesterday....as the fish now have a small case of white spot which i am treating with salt and heat....though turns out my heater won't go above 26 degrees C, so I need to buy a 100W one 2morrow to replace it so I can get the temp up to help shift the ich

all seems calm today though, added the next salt dose and they are being treated with melafix and pimafix for bacterial fin rot....almost angry a myself for getting that pitbull pleco and starting all this trouble....poo!