I Think My Betta May Have Fin Rot

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

Hi I think my Betta Rufus may have fin rot.... I am not 110% sure though. He was living with a pleco who has deffo got something wrong (it could be a reaction to aquarium salt), so I have taken the pleco out. However I am not sure if Rufus has got fin rot or not... his fins look all stuck togther and a iccle bit raggid, but nothing mjor. I don't wanna go putting medicaine in if he doesn't need it!!

I decided last night to take my pleco out, i did a water test and everything seemed fine, so I did a 20% water change and added some aquarium salt.. I also upped the temp slightly.

What would you do?? I am new to all this.

Ps - I have jad them about 3 weeks and have already had to get rid of whitespot on Rufus

 

[jasminekiddell]

If you could provide us with a picture of your betta that would help alot more.
For now dont add anything, just provide him with a good diet and water changes i know some people use melafix as a course for finrot but i would leave him for now until someone else can advise you correctly.

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

I have been trying to take a pic for the past week... but u can't see anything on them

I will try again tonight!!!

 

[Forestpisces]

Sounds like bad water quality but you everything is fine, Don't use salt with plecos

Also i wouldn't add salt to my tank routinely, it can be used to treat minor wounds and infections but if your fish doesn't require a slightly brakish set up then i really wouldn't.

What are your actual water stats?

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

Hellooooo

These are my water stats as of last night

pH - 7.6
High pH - 7.4
Ammonia - 0 - 0.25 (did a water change)
Nitrite No2 - 0
Nitrate No3 - 0 - 5

I added the salt to help my betta a little get over the white spot

 

[loraxchick]

salt is actually beneficial to fish who can tolerate it...not cories plecs tetras etc, but bettas surely. helps keep the beasties' population down as salt makes the environment less tolerable.
a word of caution tho. how do you know how much salt it is the tank...it does not evaporate with the water. so if you add salt with every waterchange at a dosage that the package of salt says without using a hygrometer, chances are the salinity levels could be getting up there and could cause problems down the road. most surely it was the salt that was causing the plec distress.
to anyone adding salt, please do so carefully (ie 50% or 25% water changes with careful measurement of appropriate ammt. of salt back INTO the tank...or get a hygrometer to measure sg of the water so that your salinity doesnt get out of control).
if it is actually finrot, salt will help to make the water less tolerable to the bacteria...but usually lots of water changes are the best remedy for fin rot. if that doesnt help or you start to see rapid degradation of the fins in question, meds are the next step (and not melafix...actual antibiotics)...if you are using melafix, please keep it to a half dose with bettas. some react very badly to the stuff and you dont want to find out the hard way. i suspect the finrot is secondary to the ich while the fish's immune system was compromised. if the ich is gone and youve medicated the FULL treatment (not just afte the spots have disappeared) then keep clean water and the fins should hopefully show some improvement.
cheers

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

Oh no so you think that me adding the salt has eat away at my Plecos fins?

I will do a water change and not add any salt tonight.

Ps - I didnt medicate to get rid of the white spot!!

 

[loraxchick]

well salt is a good start to stopping the life cycle of the whitespot...but it goes thru stages. after if disappears from the fish it falls off and lives in the gravel...only to reinfect the fish a while later. look into some meds and do a whole round.
as for the plec, i cant say that the salt ate away his fins, but he might have been stressed by the salt causing his immune system to be compromised and fin rot set in...try keeping the plecs water ubber clean and see if there is improvement before trying meds. if it gets worse quickly then medicate right away keeping in mind plecs need half dose.
all the best

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

Some pictures

http/photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sn...83_623083_n.jpg

http/photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-sn...9_1279728_n.jpg

http/photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2...330_7630411.jpg

Please let me know if u can't see them x x

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

Anyone??

 

[Gill]

nope Can't see Any Finrot, Just nice healthy new growth at the end of his tail

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

nope Can't see Any Finrot, Just nice healthy new growth at the end of his tail

Really

Even though they are clumped together and a bit scraggy??

 

[Gill]

nope Can't see Any Finrot, Just nice healthy new growth at the end of his tail

Really

Even though they are clumped together and a bit scraggy??

Yep Can Clearly See new Growth, they may be a little scaggy but nothing to worry about

 

[-L-O-T-T-E-]

nope Can't see Any Finrot, Just nice healthy new growth at the end of his tail

Really

Even though they are clumped together and a bit scraggy??

Yep Can Clearly See new Growth, they may be a little scaggy but nothing to worry about

Whooooooooooooooooooooooo how exciting

 

[loraxchick]

i second healthy fins and new growth..some bettas have ruffly fins like that...i think from poor genetics. two of my vts have ruffly fins. they just grew like that.
he looks great!
cheers