Please Help My Betta Fish!

[firetothislife]

I have a betta fish, he lives in a one gallon tank, no filter, so I generally do a 30% water change once a week or so. I noticed something was wrong with his top fin, but I didn't know anything like fin rot existed. He's 2 years old, I've had a lot of bettas before, and this one's never been sick, so it never occurred to me. I was just keeping his tank clean, but when I went home for a week I left a small tropical fish feeder in there. I came back and his tank was filthy, his top fin is completely gone, and there is now a white patch on his back, fuzzy and kind of stringy like the rot is eating his skin now.

I went to the store and debated for a long time before getting Bettafix for him (even though I heard mixed reviews) because maracyn and pimafix all seemed too strong for my 1 gallon tank. It's been two days and I can't see a difference. He gets 1/2 teaspoon every 24 hours like the bottle says (so he's had two doses with no water changes in between) and I put in a 1/2 teaspoon of aquarium salt and a half teaspoon of water conditioner (although he gets that every time I do a water change.) Ammonia is less than .02 (presumably zero)

I also think he's lost a little color on his sides.

I am really attached to this fish, and I know I should have recognized the fin rot, but I just want to make him better.

http/i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g432/aluszczyk/dave.jpg

http/i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g432/aluszczyk/dave2.jpg

I know it's hard to see, but it doesn't quite have the cottony/stringy qualities of a fungus.

http/i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g432/aluszczyk/dave3.jpg

If anybody has any ideas I need explicit instructions. Medicine, water changes, doses, everything. I also don't know how to divide one of that maracyn packets up small enough for a one gallon and I don't know if it will be too strong since there's no filter.


Please help!


Oh, he's still eating like normal and moves around a lot. And I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking but I think the wound looks a little smaller than yesterday.

I don't care if his fin never grows back and he's never as pretty, I just want him to be healthy.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Hi firetothislife, welcome to the forum - I should warn you, you'll probably get some mixed advice to this question as there are a couple of things going on here. I think a lot of fishkeepers don't like the autofeeders because there is a risk of them "poisoning" the tank, especially in smaller tanks.

Someone else will be better able to diagnose the disease but in my (not so expert) opinion it is an advanced case of finrot. I cannot advise you on the best medication for this but I can tell you that you need to do lots of water changes and your ammonia and nitrite HAVE to be 0 in order for him to start healing. Do as many water changes as needed to keep them both at 0 - this can mean 90% water changes where you just leave enough water in the tank so that the betta is covered.

Now comes to the really difficult part. Unfortunately, your tank isn't the best environment for a betta. It is well known that at lot of people keep them in tanks such as yours so you are not alone in your mistake BUT it really is too small. There are mixed opinions on what is the smallest tank size for a betta but if you were able get him into anything bigger than where he is now would be an improvement. A 5 or 10 gallon tank would be ideal but even if you could get him a 2.5 gallon tank it would be better.

Also, a betta really needs a heater in his tank ESPECIALLY while he is sick as a warmer temperature inhibits the fungus and helps him heal. Lastly, if you were able to get a filter for him that would be the icing on the cake. Once the filter grows healthy bacteria you will not have to worry about the ammonia and nitrite levels which poison your fish and are a big factor as to how he got sick this time.

I hope this helps a little and that someone more expereinced in fish diseases posts to help you with the diagnoses and medication route. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have!

 

[Tolak]

Maracyn & Maracyn II, 50% daily water change & redose. Continue for 7-10 days. You can eyeball the medication, I believe it comes in packets designed for dosing 10 gallons. Divide it in half, then each half into 5 equal portions.

Consider a small filter, you make no mention of a heater, something that is needed unless the room temperature is 78F or better. For now a bit cooler is fine, 72-75F, feed about 1/3 normal, or every 3rd day. You want cooler when dealing with a bacterial illness, cooler means a lower metabolism, thus less food is needed.

With a betta in a 1 gallon with no filter you really have to keep up on water quality, 50% water change every other day, and be real careful not to overfeed. Consider a bit larger accommodations, as well as a filter.

Also, please fill this out to give us more information on your fish and situation;

Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:

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

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):