voiceless_kat

As most of you know, Storm is my red veiltail rescue betta who was almost dead when I brought him home. After a few "iffy" weeks and meds and love, he rallied and has since been my sweetie fish. "Storm who rose from the dead" ( as he refers to himself ) has been healthy and exhibiting all the cutesey signs of betta love. He is, however a "needy" fish, who turns his face white when I leave for a weekend, and magically goes back to full colour when I come home. He is a clown........who loves to play in the current of the bio wheel and jump onto the suction cup of his thermometer to rest. He craves attention, which he always gets. Well, you get the picture. He is so special to me.

Yesterday however, I noticed he has several tiny pin holes on his anal fin, very close to his body. Now if this is fin rot ( I am thinkin it is from what I have read) and it is this close to his body, well............he would look pretty weird without that fin............... Although he seems in perfect health, I worry because I am sure his immune system was compromised when he was rescued in that putrid 1/2 inch of water in his cup. I do not want to take a "wait and see" corse with him.

He is in his cycled tank, happy as a clam...I am thinking of doing a course of Maracyn II and perhaps a wee titch of aquarium salt. I do not have a Q tank at this time since it is full of teeny tiny Wink Jack Sparrow who patiently waits for his big tank to cycle...another story for sure!! So I would like to medicate with something that won't screw up the biological filter. Water paramaters are all good, with 0 ammon & nitrite and 10 nitrate.

I add daily Vita Chem and weekly Fish Protector from Kordon. Asking for input regarding meds.............do you guys think Maracyn II to be a good choice??

Thanks for input....Val

COBettaCouple

We understand how you feel about Storm and if it was us, i'd start off treating him with http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113021 as it's an organic treatment. Between the VitaChem, Fish Protector and that along with the usual clean water and love I would hope that those little holes would heal up quickly.

should you need something stronger, i'd recommend: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113021. We like this better than Maracyn-2 and it doesn't mess up the good bacteria.

we have both of those meds in stock and they are our 1st and 2nd choices for fin rot treatment.

0morrokh

If the holes are tiny they may heal on their own. I would personally wait a day or two to see if the fins heal up, or if medicating is necessary. Any medication will most likely mess up your filtration to some extent, no matter what the manufacturer says.

If you are going to medicate you can probably use just about any general anti-bacterial medication. Maracyn 2 would probably be fine, although I have found it not to be extremely strong of a medication. Trisulfa or triple sulfa would be stronger. I have had good success on finrot with Fungus Clear, which I would say to be a medium strength med, but it stains everything blue so ya probably don't want to use it in his tank.

voiceless_kat

Thanks, Dave & Omorrokh.....I happen to have Triple Sulfa on hand also, although I do not have Fungus Eliminator. I am a fan of Kordon products,and know F&S will get it here quickly. Perhaps I will start with Triple Sulfa and if required move on to the other. I do not want to overmedicate, but in Storm's case, I do not want to wait...I would rather hit it full steam.

Tech at Mardel advised that of all their products ( Maracyns I mean ) only Maracyn Plus will screw up biological filter, and I love that product as well.

I will keep you posted........send good thoughts.....Thanks again, Val

0morrokh

I have never actually used Triple Sulfa, but from what I have heard about it, it should work fine. Let us know how it works.

COBettaCouple

Yea, i'm a fan of Kordon (especially this line of organic/herbal meds to allow us a less harsh option) and Mardel products. They seem to consistantly put out good stuff. We're cheering for your success.

voiceless_kat

Morning, Dave. I started Storm on the Trisulfa this morning. I hate the way that stuff takes so long to dissolve, although Storm seems to make a game out of chasing ( and sometimes eating ) the little bits that fall through the water. He is such a card. ( a Joker at that... )

I am holding the Mardel tech to the advice he gave saying only Maracyn Plus woud interefere with the biological filter. Here is part of the email:

Thank you for your email. The majority of the Mardel medications will have no effect on your biological filter. The only product that would have any effect would be Maracyn Plus. Maracyn Plus is a combination of two powerful, broad spectrum antibiotics and could potentially kill off a small amount of your beneficial bacteria. Generally, a well established tank can handle this with no problem, but you should keep an eye on your water quality.

Sincerely,

Hilary Forrester, CVT
Senior Veterinary Technical Product Support
Virbac Corporation

So here's hoping all good things will happen...............Val

COBettaCouple

yea, aslan liked to nip at the tablet when we treated him with the stuff for 10 days.

voiceless_kat

Mine is powder..............I can't figure out why mfgs can't figure out how much easier and less wasteful liquid meds are!!!! Only Kordon.............most of theirs are liquid. Oh well...........just my opinion...........and Storm's , and Neptune's and Wink JS's

COBettaCouple

yea, we can only get it in powder now. i think mardel has gone to powder instead of tablets with their products. I love the kordon products too. and it is easier to dose liquids for different sized tanks.

Jendayi

When I was using those Maracyn/Maracyn2 tablets I crushed them into powder first, and then added them to my tank. I had to do that because all of my tanks are smaller than what the dosage is for, but also I found it dissolves very quickly...

voiceless_kat

I have crushed the tablets in the past also. The Trisulfa powder takes forever to dissolve. Hate to think what it would be like just pouring the powder into a 10 gal tank. It kind of floats and you have to stir it up. Then it coats the spoon you stir with and the sides of the cup. I stir it up really fast, then measure out. Some of the particles float down through the water, so of course that immediately becomes a game. The rest lays like a skim on top of the water and finally 10 hours later, disappears. At first I was worried that it would interfere with breathing, but so far, no problem.

So far all water parameters are still good, so no problem with the cycled tank. Val

COBettaCouple

yea, that trisulfa powder seems to be anything but quick-dissolving.

Jendayi

I had that same problem with Trisulfa. Then I needed another box to start yet another round, but my LFS was out of the Mardel brand. So I bought the Triple Sulfa by API. It is basicly the same meds, but I found they completely dissolve, and quickly. The water wasn't cloudy at all and there were no little clouds floating on top of the water.

I find it very sad that I can comment on almost every single fish med out there, and I have only had fish since February.

Have the little pin holes healed up yet? I have seen those type of holes go both ways with my boys. Cujo had some on his anal fin that healed up by the next day. Romeo had one on his dorsal fin that just got bigger and that is when the turd demolished his dorsal fin down to nothing. I hope you have Cujo's luck with it...

voiceless_kat

LOL, I also can comment on too many meds, I really do have a cupboard full, and I also started this hobby/obsession in Feb.

Now that I use Kordon and Mardel, I don't buy any more. I am always dealing with fin/tail rot related problems - well except when I thought Storm was kinda swollen. But he is fine now, except for these pin holes. They have not healed and one is somewhat longer than it was. I just decided I will give him all the loving I can, and do my best to keep him well with either meds or no meds and let his life unfold as it will. He is such a sweetheart and I don't want to waste one minute being so stressed that I cannot enjoy him. I told my husband tonight ( he asked if I was having a conversation with my fish) - and I told him sometimes when I talk to Storm he gets so excited he just quivers his tail, it is adorable ! He gets so excited. ( My fish, not my husband...LOL )

When I first came on fishlore I read one of Roses postings in which she wrote of talking/singing to her fish, and I am sure I rolled my eyes............LOL.........Joke is on me!!! They do respond. I believe anything and everything now that people say about their bettas!!

Storm's water is nice and clear, and parameters really good, so I hope for the best for my boy!! Val

COBettaCouple

maybe we should form a "meds collector club"? it seems like the meds collection is always growing. i'm sorry if you posted a pic, but did you post a pic of the holes? where are they in relation to the 'ribs'?

LOL.. you'd need new meds i think if your hubby started quivering his tail when you talked to him! they really appreciate our talking to them, don't they? how can you not love these little bettas? he is a sweetheart of a betta and we hope the holes close up soon.

voiceless_kat

Dave, I will try to get a pic posted later. The pinholes are near the end of the fin, but closer to the body end and between the rays. or rebs, whatever that is called. ..they are not right at the body, there is no ulceration or anything. Very weird. I googled this and apparently is quite common, and all advice says treat as for fin rot.

COBettaCouple

yea, just right off, that'd be what i'd say too.. but either he's got a point that can't regrow (which would be odd) or something else is a cause or it is a form of tail rot that perhaps needs a different approach.. or it could even be another issue.. like Sora's "double-tail" after he blew his tail fin and it would only heal so far and that was it.

Muffymouse

Those tiny pin holes are the way fin rot has always started on my guys. From those holes the tail just splits to the ends of the fin but has never gotten any closer to the body. (I hope that yours just heal on their own and not split up your baby's fin) Let us know how things progress. Sending warm thoughts your way to you and all your little guys especially Storm.

nmwierman1977

How is storm doing? RJ get's those holes in his top fin, but they always seem to heal themselves after awhile. I just continue to give him the vitachem and they eventually heal. Natalie

Carillon

I just had the same thing with one of our bettas. I noticed the tiny pinholes one day, and by the next day the poor little guy had the beginnings of fin rot. He's responding well to medication so far though, and the pinholes that had not become worse seem to be healing up nicely. I hope everything goes as well with your guy.

COBettaCouple

Aslan read this thread and has a little pinhole in his tailfin now too.. we're watching it to see if he'll need treated or not.

voiceless_kat

Well guys, I must say I am touched to see how many fellow bettas are getting pinholes in support of Storm...he will be so happy to know of the love out there!! It is like shaving heads for cancer support!! Love it!

He just finished a course of triple sulfa and I am about to do a small water change and add a new filter, treat now with only Fish Protector and VitaChem. He gets VitaChem every day anyway. One is a tiny bit bigger, the others no change, so I am hoping for the best.

My hubby and I were away on a motorcycle day trip play date yesterday, and when we got home, well, he was almost jumping out of the tank with excitement to see activity in the kitchen again. Hubby says to me " Did you know Storm can turn summersaults in the water" Of course I did....but I laugh cuz Hubby is so betta hooked now!!! although he doesn't realize quite yet!!

I am still going to get the photo, meanwhile, thanks everyone, it always is helpful to know it is happening to others too!! And I will keep you posted.

Val

COBettaCouple

the Betta Bug is irresistible!

voiceless_kat

Just a quick update on my love Storm...........he finished a session of TripleSulfa on the 16th. I put in a new filter and changed 20% of the water.

These holes have not closed, one seems a little bigger. He looks like he was shot with buckshot !!

So tonight I have started him on a 5 day course of Maracyn TC (aka tetracycline 250mg). I haven't used this before, but will try anything at this point. He doesn't seem to be bothered at all and is otherwise acting his sweet self Water parameters are all good, so hopefully this will give him some good results. I am also adding Fish Protector daily, in a reduced amount , and the VitaChem. So there really is nothing left to do, unless someone can make a miracle.

Keep him in your thoughts..........he is making his mommy crazy Val

lilsoccakid

wow. my tank will be finished cycling and starting my first round of fish ( probably some neon tetras), and all these meds worry me. is there a medication i should buy while i go to pick up fish?

voiceless_kat

Well, I know that fin/tail rot is very common and can hang on for a long time, in betta fish. I really have no experience with any others. If you are getting bettas, I would for sure have Maracyn I & Maracyn II and Triple Sulfa on hand. Those are pretty basic meds. Most of us also use VitaChem vitamins daily. Personally, I also keep Fish Protector on hand, or something else that has echinacea or some natural herb that will assist with slime coat. My biggest mistake when I got my first betta was not to have anything like that on hand and I live where the only supplier I have is Walmart and they have very few meds. If you have a local fish store/Petco/Petsmart to go to if you need it, you wouldn't have to put the money out now.

Good Luck, what kinds of fish are you getting?? Val

Jendayi

That's a naughty Storm! Making your mommy crazy like that... Cujo says a good fish should NEVER do such a thing, and you should act more like him... ... HUH?? lol

We're keeping our fingers and fins crossed for Storm's recovery. I think I see the problem, tho. It appears that you don't have a glass of wine in your hand. Maybe you should try that??

voiceless_kat

Darn, why didn't I think of that You are so right!!! Storm says "chill out Mom, dots are in this year"...................GRRRRRRRRRRR he is such a turd!!!

Perhaps I will pour a glass of wine and order more meds for him at F&S. Must get that Kanaplex....I think it is one I should use next.

Funny thing, Maracyn TC makes bubbles on top of the water, so Storm asked me to fib for him and say he made a bubble nest. ( None of mine have done that) turds that they are, after all I do for them, little ingrates............red wine, coming up.............LOL
PS "Everyone, Storm made a bubble nest, finally" Val

chickadee

Kanaplex is a drug of last resort and I truly would not use it for finrot. I am afraid it would really damage the little fellow. It is a terribly strong medication and is very hard on their internal organs. If they do not have something like TB or dropsy I would never administer it to your fish. I would go with the Maracyn Plus for 2 courses next and give it some time. Regeneration takes time and if the hole is not growing it may be that the disease is healed but the tissue has not grown back together yet. Sometimes regeneration can take weeks and the Vita Chem will accomplish that.

If the hole is not getting bigger the finrot is cured.

Rose