Sick Fighter

[SailfinGirl]

I bought a Siamese Fighter on the 19th, I believe it was, and he was fine, I checked him carefully to make sure he was ok. He was a bit subdued and I thought this would wear off once he settled into his new tank.

I looked at him today and I was shocked to see that half his fins have turned white and he seems very weak. He is hanging about near the top of the tank out of the way of the filter, and he is letting his front fins (the ones underneath him) just hang.

I have never seen a case of finrot, but could it be this and what can I do, if anything, to save him.

I am trying to upload pictures to put on here of him, but they won't be up until tomorrow. Please help.

 

[cometcattle]

Is he in your 28g?

I definatly would take him out. Chances are, your filter flow is just too strong for him.

Finrot will first affect the edges of his fins.

Does his fins look like they were nipped? I noticed you had flying foxes and danois.

He could be just stressed out and he won't settle in.

Do you have an unfiltered container you can put him in?
It will give you a better chance to observe him and be much better for your betta.

I would add stress-coat and maybe a pinch of aquarium salt to start with.

Please keep us updated, SailfinGirl.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Isolation and antifungal remedies would be the way to go. Fin nippers might have sparked the finrot, as stated above.

 

[curlycherry0]

My boyfriend had fighters he has bought about 3 in total and his did the same thing but it happened within a couple of hours and died!
He went back to the shop where he got them from and asked for his money back because they had a sign saying if fish die within 48 hours they will be replaced and they just said it wasnt there fault!

He hasnt been back since !!!

 

[SailfinGirl]

Yes, he was in my 26 gallons, he died overnight, but I'm worried that he could have passed whatever he had onto the other fish. I noticed it there the other day, although it got really bad when I posted. The other fish seemed to be leaving him alone. It looked like he was on his way out yesterday, so I was going to move him into my 5 gal, which has a very low filter jet thing, in fact no pressure at all. I didn't because I thought the stress might kill him.

I also noticed that he had a sort of blister or ulcer on his side.

When I got him he had beautiful long flowing fins and when he died he looked like a short finned fighter.

Anywho, I'm going to get my money back and spend it on stuff to make sure my other fish don't get it. What do you recommend? I'm in the Uk.

If I get another one he will most definately be going in my 5 gallon tank!

 

[White Whale]

Maybe he died of exhaustion because the current/flow may have been too strong for him. I break them in first by putting my new acquisitions in one of those tiny jars (like the ones they use at the LFS) so there is absolutely ZERO current and set aside in a quiet and dim place for a day for them to calm down. In the water is prevent ich and a couple of grains of aquarium salt. Then I would put them in their regular containers the day after.

 

[cometcattle]

I would recommend doing a good water change, maybe 35-40%.

I would not start treating with any meds until you see signs of disease on your other fish.

I'm still not convinced the betta died from fin-rot. I don't think it could kill him that fast. He looked like a short finned betta because the other fish were probably nipping him as he became weaker and after he died.

I'm leaning towards the betta dieing of stress. Personally, I won't keep bettas in anything larger than a 10g. I've heard from reputable betta breeders and keepers that large aquaria will stress them out and shortens their lives. Also, I would only keep them with cory cats, kuhlis, and ADFs. It's usually not the bettas aggression that you have to worry about, it's the seemingly peaceful fish that can't resist the betta's long flowing fins.

If you have any Betta questions, please ask in the Betta section. We are fortunate to have tons of knowledgeable, friendly betta people here.

 

[SailfinGirl]

I thought I was being kind to him giving him all that space to swim around in. What was the blister then?

Thanks for your help, I won't be putting a betta in that tank again!

 

[cometcattle]

I thought I was being kind to him giving him all that space to swim around in. What was the blister then?

Thanks for your help, I won't be putting a betta in that tank again!

I'm not sure what the blister is.

He could have been attack or picked on.

I would keep a close eye on your other fish, and do another small water change.