New Approach To Fin Rot!

[Betta Crazy!]

So Nereus has had Rin Rot for about 3 months, hasn't gotten better, hasn't gotten worse. I do water changes everyday, tryed different medication, yet nothing has worked!!!! (he's acting normal, though, he's the fiercest boy I've ever seen!) So I came across this on the internet the other day-
you'll need a paper plate, a paper towel, a soft paintbrush, a net, and hydrogen peroxide (for cuts.) First scoop the fish up with your net. Put it gently onto the upside-down paperplate. Put the papertowel over its head (put make sure to soak it with aquarium water.) Dip the paintbrush on the hydrogen peroxide (wiping off any excess if you need to) and brush it gently over the infected part(s) of the fish. DO NOT GET ANY ON ITS HEAD!! Let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute. put the fish back into the net and release it back into its aquarium.

Now, these aren't the SAME instructions (I just put down what i remembered) But the instructions I put down are similar to those of the website's. I know this would stress the fish but apparently if you do this to a betta with fin rot no fin rot survives this treatment. And Nereus has not gotten better at all. His heater is on to the right temp, and I've done everything!! I want the best for Nereus, but I don't know if I should do this or not?

 

[silverrabbit]

I don't know if I would risk it, i'd be too worried about doing it wrong!

 

[Forestpisces]

sounds very stressfull and it's very likely the betta would die from suffocation IMO.

Try the eSHa products the work wonders

 

[Inchworm]

It looks like the objective is to remove infected tissue and leave a clean area for healing. I've used a similar approach with corys with success but used a concentrated salt dip instead of peroxide. I think I'd try it with a betta too, rather than the more drastic procedure that involves holding down a struggling fish.

 

[hamfist]

It sounds like it's worth a go to me, as you are unable to treat it any other way.

Any fish will be fine for a couple of minutes out of water. Probably even more. I used to do scientific research on fish, and periodically I had to anaesthetise fish and then remove them from the water for a period of 2-3 minutes to take blood from them, or other procedures. Then they would go back into fresh water to revive from the anaesthetic. They were always fine after this.
You are also going to be covering the Betta's head with a wet paper towel, which is a good thing to keep him calmer (and his gills moister).

As for the hydrogen peroxide, it is regularly used medically, to breakdown dead tissue and kill bacteria. It has little effect on healthy tissue. I'm guessing the advice to avoid getting on the head, is to avoid it getting on the eyes or gills. However, the wet paper towel over the head should protect the fish, even if you do splash a drop onto the head area.

However, I'd also have a good look at your Betta's environment. As the fin rot is failing to heal, I'm guessing that your fish is living in a state of mild stress (whether physically or psychologically). Is there a way that you envisage his environment might be stressing him out ? Whether water parameters, or lack of cover, or tankmates, or whatever ?