I don't have a master test kit right now, only an ammonia meter and a PH test kit (ammonia is at 0, pH is a high 7). But i've noticed that in both of my tanks (20 and 5) both my betta and green terror suffer from fin rot, or at least what i think is fin rot. Its only their pectoral fins (the ones that would be like arms?). Pieces of their fins get white and they eventually fray. I'm treating the GT with Melafix right now and the betta was recovering from it months ago, but it seems to be flaring up again. Is there any possibility that the tap water i'm using is just really bad? is there certain parameters that would be causing thing? i don't have any sharp objects in the tanks, and there's not bullying going on, so i can't really figure it out. Both tanks about about 6 months cycled. I don't have money for a master test kit, and it doesn't seem to be a fatal thing happening since my betta has looking like crap for awhile, but i just want to figure out how to get their fins rebuilt and how to prevent this.
What Exactly Causes Fin Rot
- Thread starter dpcamp
- Start date
Finrot is caused by a bacterial infection getting into a damaged fin on a fish. It appears as frayed or split fins that gradually go red as the bacteria eat away the fish. It normally occurs in the tail first and then starts to erode away the other fins.
It is brought about by poor water quality damaging the fish's mucous coating and allowing the bacteria entry into the skin.
Good filtration and regular tank maintenance, (water changes, gravel cleans & filter cleaning) will prevent this problem from occurring.
However, the description you give of the pectoral fins going white before fraying would indicate it is mucous caused by poor water quality and not actually finrot caused by bacteria. Fish have a mucous coating over their body and when they are stressed out they produce more mucous giving them a cream or milky coloured appearance. The fins & eyes are usually the first to show cloudiness, then the body becomes covered in a white slime.
Again regular water changes and tank maintenance will prevent problems like this occurring. Overdosing with medications or plant fertilisers will cause the same problem as will chemical exposure from hair sprays, bug sprays, etc.
Depending on how often you do water changes perhaps try doing a daily 30-50% water change and gravel clean for a week and see how the fish looks after that. Then do a partial water change each week.
It is brought about by poor water quality damaging the fish's mucous coating and allowing the bacteria entry into the skin.
Good filtration and regular tank maintenance, (water changes, gravel cleans & filter cleaning) will prevent this problem from occurring.
However, the description you give of the pectoral fins going white before fraying would indicate it is mucous caused by poor water quality and not actually finrot caused by bacteria. Fish have a mucous coating over their body and when they are stressed out they produce more mucous giving them a cream or milky coloured appearance. The fins & eyes are usually the first to show cloudiness, then the body becomes covered in a white slime.
Again regular water changes and tank maintenance will prevent problems like this occurring. Overdosing with medications or plant fertilisers will cause the same problem as will chemical exposure from hair sprays, bug sprays, etc.
Depending on how often you do water changes perhaps try doing a daily 30-50% water change and gravel clean for a week and see how the fish looks after that. Then do a partial water change each week.
thanks for the info.
weekly i do a 20-30% water change. I have eclipse sytems so i change out the basket of carbon every 3-4 weeks. I was putting aquarium salt in there but then realized that isn't needed unless your treating your fish so i stopped doing that. I was also putting in 5ml of seachem flourish into the 20 gallon tank, but i stopped that too. should i just continue what i'm doing (minus the salt and fertilizer) and just keep an eye on them? I have never had this problem with fish before. but last time i had fish i lived in an area with better tap water. that's the only thing i can think of.
edit: i'll also try the daily water changes, and see what that does. Thank you.
Also, should i stop the melafix treatment on the GT since this is not a bacteria infection?
weekly i do a 20-30% water change. I have eclipse sytems so i change out the basket of carbon every 3-4 weeks. I was putting aquarium salt in there but then realized that isn't needed unless your treating your fish so i stopped doing that. I was also putting in 5ml of seachem flourish into the 20 gallon tank, but i stopped that too. should i just continue what i'm doing (minus the salt and fertilizer) and just keep an eye on them? I have never had this problem with fish before. but last time i had fish i lived in an area with better tap water. that's the only thing i can think of.
edit: i'll also try the daily water changes, and see what that does. Thank you.
Also, should i stop the melafix treatment on the GT since this is not a bacteria infection?
If you have carbon in the filter then it will be absorbing some of the fertiliser you put in the tank. Carbon isn't essential and if you want to add fertilisers or treat the fish with medication then you should remove the carbon and replace it with a sponge or some noodles/ ceramic beads.
I would stop adding everything and just do a few water changes and see how they look in a week. Then if they clear up you know it is something you were adding. If they don't clear up or get worse, then there is something getting into the tank.
Do you have a bucket that is used purely for the fish? Does anyone else use the fish bucket for anything? If the fish bucket is being used for cleaning or something else there could be residual chemical left over and this small amount could be getting into the tank and causing the problem.
I would stop adding everything and just do a few water changes and see how they look in a week. Then if they clear up you know it is something you were adding. If they don't clear up or get worse, then there is something getting into the tank.
Do you have a bucket that is used purely for the fish? Does anyone else use the fish bucket for anything? If the fish bucket is being used for cleaning or something else there could be residual chemical left over and this small amount could be getting into the tank and causing the problem.
Fin erosion actually has many possible causes. I've found an excellent article that discusses in detail many of the different causes of fin erosion.
"Fin Erosion in Aquaculture and Natural Environments" by David N. Latremouille. Published in Reviews in Fisheries Sciences Volume 11, 2003.
The best thing is that it is freely available from the author's workplace's website, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. See [URL="http
/wildlife.utah.gov/fes/publications.html"]http/wildlife.utah.gov/fes/publications.html[/URL] and it is the 5th publication down. The pdf file is available for download.
"Fin Erosion in Aquaculture and Natural Environments" by David N. Latremouille. Published in Reviews in Fisheries Sciences Volume 11, 2003.
The best thing is that it is freely available from the author's workplace's website, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. See [URL="http
/wildlife.utah.gov/fes/publications.html"]http/wildlife.utah.gov/fes/publications.html[/URL] and it is the 5th publication down. The pdf file is available for download.Similar threads
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