My Betta - Fin Rot?

[spidey]

Can anyone on this forum help with this issue (posted on Emergencies)?

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=281145"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=281145[/URL]

Sorry if I seem impatient by posting in here too, but I thought it might be more appropriate here?

Really worried about him

 

[Honeythorn]

You don't need the internal bacteria medicine. He doesn't have that. It does look like fin rot may be starting if the edges are getting raggedy and blackish. Stop with the internal bacteria medicine and keep his water very clean for a week. No treatments ect. You could also put some activated carbon sponge in your filter to help remove the remnants of the medicine. When a week has passed, remove the carbon sponge. Then you can start with a fin rot treatment.Myzaxin is a good one to try.

 

[bronzecat]

yeh, just keep him in clean water.

One thing, why do you turn the heater up and down? Once the heater is set, say at 78 degrees, it makes no difference whether you have your central heating on or not. If your heater had been set to 78 when you were away the water wouldn't have dropped to 20.

 

[spidey]

You don't need the internal bacteria medicine. He doesn't have that. It does look like fin rot may be starting if the edges are getting raggedy and blackish. Stop with the internal bacteria medicine and keep his water very clean for a week. No treatments ect. You could also put some activated carbon sponge in your filter to help remove the remnants of the medicine. When a week has passed, remove the carbon sponge. Then you can start with a fin rot treatment.Myzaxin is a good one to try.

I don't notice any blackishness to be honest, nothing but the tattered fins - but I'll just keep the changes up this week as you say until I can use a fin rot treatment. Thank you

yeh, just keep him in clean water.

One thing, why do you turn the heater up and down? Once the heater is set, say at 78 degrees, it makes no difference whether you have your central heating on or not. If your heater had been set to 78 when you were away the water wouldn't have dropped to 20.

That's the thing - the tank heater is always set to 26 degrees c, but when I got back, it hadn't come on, and the water was cold. However, since having my central heating on again, the tank heater appears to come on when necessary and keep the temperature constant - like it couldn't cope or something when the temp in the house was so low. Does that make any sense?

 

[GSD]

I would use melafix, i have found it treats all fin problems, and will clear up any fin rot. Keep the water clean also.

If there is no black around his fins he could be catching them. I notice you have rocks in the tank, try rubbing a thin pair of tights over the rock, if the tights click, thats whats shredding his fins.
He could also be biting his fins which bettas are known to do when bored or stressed.

 

[spidey]

I would use melafix, i have found it treats all fin problems, and will clear up any fin rot. Keep the water clean also.

If there is no black around his fins he could be catching them. I notice you have rocks in the tank, try rubbing a thin pair of tights over the rock, if the tights click, thats whats shredding his fins.
He could also be biting his fins which bettas are known to do when bored or stressed.

I did a decent water change and began to treat Captain Jack with Melafix, and - hooray, regrowth! I can't tell if it was the big water change or the meds though, because I'm sure he was already improving after the change.

But - I looked in on him this morning, he was fine, the regrowth has been continuing for a month. I came home from work: bam, fins shredded! This can't be fin rot can it? There's no evidence of any disease at all, just shredded fins. I've put some new silk plants in, but they were checked and were fine. I'm going to have to take the rock out, and the bogwood I have, and check them with tights. It's just so much damage in one working day though! Could he be biting them?

 

[Honeythorn]

Some bettas do bite their own fins. Is the filter an internal or HOB? He may be getting caught in the intake and ripping his fins trying to get away. You can tie a pop sock or a foot from a pair of tights overthe intake to stop this.

 

[spidey]

Some bettas do bite their own fins. Is the filter an internal or HOB? He may be getting caught in the intake and ripping his fins trying to get away. You can tie a pop sock or a foot from a pair of tights overthe intake to stop this.

It is internal, that would make a lot of sense actually with the way he's getting shredded (and the extent of the damage in such a short space of time). Thanks a lot, I'll try that too!

 

[spidey]

Some bettas do bite their own fins. Is the filter an internal or HOB? He may be getting caught in the intake and ripping his fins trying to get away. You can tie a pop sock or a foot from a pair of tights overthe intake to stop this.

It is internal, that would make a lot of sense actually with the way he's getting shredded (and the extent of the damage in such a short space of time). Thanks a lot, I'll try that too!

Hmm, I tried this and my filter decided to give up the ghost! It has been sputtering on and off for a while, I think there is something wrong with the alignment of the propeller type bit - I don't think my actions necessarily caused it! I tried taking it apart and putting it together again, but it's gone.

I need a new one fast! What would be the best type of filter to get for my betta? Preferably something that doesn't require loads of maintenance and isn't too expensive? My tank is about 30 litres.

 

[Netty]

You could get a sponge filter and external pump. They are great for bettas as the flow is minimal and you can adjust it by using airline clamps.

 

[Morphkid03]

For my tank I use a whisper cartridge filter. It works well and the flow is adjustable, the lowest setting is perfect for bettas.

Whisper Filter

 

[spidey]

Thanks both! I bought a Sera air pump a while ago for a little air stone (not for my betta!), will that do if I buy a filter that needs an external air pump? I think it's the 110 here:

http/www.fishandfins.co.uk/sera-air-pump.htm

 

[loraxchick]

use your old filter media in the new one.

 

[spidey]

use your old filter media in the new one.

Well, I've ended up getting this, which was the only one the LFS had that would do:

http/www.petco.com/product/3199/Penn-Pla...rld-Filter.aspx

I figured it would be ok for 30 litres? I've hooked it up to my air pump and it seems to be working nicely. I've put some old filter sponge in there too The only thing I'm concerned about is that the manufacturers say that you should replace the cartridge, which contains a sponge and carbon, every 4 weeks! No chance!

I've read, however, that when you cut these catridges open carefully, you can just persist with the same cartridge, and rinse the sponge in tank water occasionally the way I did with my old filter, and replace the carbon when necessary (How often should I do this? My old filter only had sponge). If this filter is totally inappropriate, do tell me, as it only cost me £4.39, so it will at least do in the interim!