AggieYen

I know it happens, I know it's common, I know it's easily treatable - but its still hard to come home to a happily dancing betta with half his tail fin missing I watch his fins obsessively for any sign of infection - I've seen pin holes before, but a water change usually fixed it and they healed right up. Today though, a portion of his tail fin is gone, and the ends of his fins have started feathering up. Although.. his pectoral fins have always been ragged... never figured that one out. The Vita-Chem seems to have helped the fin membrane grow back in degrees... I wonder if the current is too strong in there for him, causing him to over-strain his pectoral fins.

Done a water change once I saw it, I've been adding Vita-Chem to his water every day for the last two weeks, and now I'm dosing his food with Vita-Chem as well. I'll keep up the water changes and Vita-Chem.. don't want to medicate unless I absolutely have to... if there's no improvement by the end of the week I'll have to bring in the big guns. I'm thinking Tri-Sulfa, if I have to medicate?

Sigh.

capekate

Hi AggieYen
Sorry to hear about your Betta's fin rot problem. Yes, it happens for sure.. but the good thing, as you already know is that it is treatable and easily remedied with medication, and water changes. IMO if you have the medication available I would start it soon. You mention that half of his tail fin is gone, that would indicate to me the need to start meds soon and not wait a week. Maybe I am being overly cautious on this, but why wait til it gets even worse?
As far as the water current goes, this is a reason that I have been researching the sponge filters for betta tanks. Maybe while your guy is healing you can use one of those to cut down on the current? They are not expensive at all, and hook up to your air pump.
good luck with Champion... hope he feels better soon!

~ kate
EDIT: oppps.. I read it to say that half his tail fin was gone, my fault. A portion of his tail fin is gone.. not sure how much is.. so I was really concerned, sorry for the mis read on my part.

AggieYen

Hehe... yes, I am the queen of exaggeration. But there is are bits of his tail that are gone.. the ends are - I think you're right - if the Vita-Chem couldn't prevent the finrot, then it probably won't make it go away either. I'll have to get to some Tri-Sulfa as soon as I can.

I think I already have a sponge filter. I have an Eheim Pickup with flow control - it's got a big sponge in the box - hence... sponge filter? And I've turned the flow all the way low now... only thing is there's very little surface agitation, even with bubble wall going, with the flow all the way down.

capekate

LOL yeh, I guess I did exaggerate the problem lol... I tend to get so nervous when I hear finrot! Only betta of mine that had it was Glory and I had to treat him for a long time. His fins had feathered up... and it took a long time to get better.
So its good that your flow is turned down.. so yep, that should help. Glad to hear that your going to get some tri-sulpha for him. May as well nip it in the bud.. before it gets worse!
again.. good luck with him.. Im sure he will be fine!

COBettaCouple

We've found Triple Sulfa and Rid-Fungus (plus Fish Protector & Vita-Chem) make an effective combination against the fin rot causes, although I'm not sure that you can get Rid-Fungus or Fish Protector in Australia.

AggieYen

Okay.. I've put Triple Sulfa into the tank... can't find Rid-Fungus... don't see much improvement in his fins, but I'm hoping for the best. I have a question about carbon in the filter... I have an Eheim pickup with a solid sponge block in the housing - how/where would I put the carbon into the filter when I need to get the medication out? The LFS advised me to just replace the sponge in the filter with the carbon sponge... but then... wouldn't that be taking out all the good bacteria? Would it be sufficient if I just cut a carbon pad and squeezed it into the filter on top of the sponge?

Sorry I'm asking these inane questions... I've never had to medicate a tank, so I'm rather... confused as to how the carbon bit works.

chickadee

I would get a media bag and put some loose carbon in it and rinse it quick in some dechlored water and lay it in on top of the sponge.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&pcatid=13961

It will do its job in a couple or three days and you can just empty and wash the bag and have it around for next time.

I like the Black Diamond Carbon that Marineland puts out. It is not as messy as some that I have used.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...99&pcatid=3599

Hope this helps.

Rose