I think its fin rot...

[Jen21]

Help! I have a 30 gallon with livebearers in it and a few of them are staying at the bottom and have white at the edges of their fins. Is it fin rot, ich or could it be something else. I just did a water change, the water is still a bit cloudy.

 

[WILDER]

Can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.
http/www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtips/finrot.htm

 

[Jen21]

Well I just did a water change so Im not sure of the exact water conditions, however; I think poor water quality may be too blame. I just added some Melafix and I think I may add some salt. My water seems awfully cloudy.

 

[WILDER]

How long has the tank been set up.
http/www.totallyfish.com/tips/cloudywater.html

 

[Jen21]

Its been set up for 6+ months... I just got over having mini cycle problems... Im just wondering what to do now to better the environment for my fish.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Do you have a water test kit? That is the easiest way to check your water quaility, especially since you have been having mini-cyles. Cloudy water can be many things, but if it looks like someone poured milk into your tank, that is totally harmless and will clear up within a week.

To help improve the quality of the water, the easiest way is to do frequent water changes. I have gone through times when I had to do daily water change. Make sure you are using dechlorinator, and adding salt can also help.

For the fin-rot, does it look like the edges of the fins are eroding away? Can you describe the white stuff a little better? Does it look like little bits of cotton are growning on the fins?

 

[Jen21]

I just added some salt... It looks mostly like their fins are getting eaten away.... but it kinda looks like ich too... I hope the salt works

I do have a test kit and will test the water more often, I guess I'll just stick to doing daily water changes until they look better.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Lately, I've been hearing that finrot is a bacterial infection and should be treated with an antibacterial med. I am doing this with one of my bettas right now, and he seems to be responding pretty well to Maracyn 2.

Check out this link for more info on finrot. http/www.healthybetta.com/articles/Illne...sis/finrot.html

Watch your fish very carefully, especially sicne the edges look a little like ich. If you see any more spots popping up, you will need to deal with that as well.

Ich info http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article2.html

 

[julibob]

I had fin rot with my livebearers and treated with salt and melafix. There is usually a white edging to fins and a shredded look. Mine have never been affected swimming wise, so water quality may be the cause. If you use salt, ensure that you have no scaleless fish in the tank i.e. Corys, as they cannot tolerate salt. Unfortunately I was not told this when I first started out and managed to kill 2 pygmy corys .

There are many people on this forum far, far more experienced than me, and I am sure they will have lots of excellent advice for you.

Julia

 

[Jen21]

Thanks, the salt has really helped alot.... I'm just not sure why my water is so cloudy... I put in another filter media with the old one... because the old one seems to be causing some problems... so I'm going to try to get the bacteria on the new one.... Do you think 1 week is enough to get it ready?