willowgirl

Hi,

I decided to make a new post with this question to see if I can get some more responses. I really need your help with a couple questions. I thank you for all of your help and advice.

Mt betta alfie woke up today with a very damaged top fin. I am not sure what caused it as I thought I was very careful in selecting the items for his tank. I will attach a picture of the damage by the end of the post.

Two days ago, I used bio-spira to cycle his tank. ammonia readings were:
6/27/08 - 0
6/28/08 - 0
6/29/08 - .25

So I got a small ammonia reading which I think is consistent with the bio-spira cycle. I have read is normal to get low ammonia levels a couple days after set up. Am I right?

With that said, I am curious to know if I can add anything to the water to make alfie more comfortable after the damage. He seems active as before but I want to do something to help him heal.

I have the following at hand:
Stress Coat
Vita Chem
Garlic Guard

Can I use any of these products to help him out? I am concerned that if I do, I could disrupt the bio-spira cycle. I appreciate your help.
Thank you so much.

Attached Images

raggedy Alfie.JPG (68.2 KB, 17 views)

willowgirl

Anyone Please, I'm desperate

Martinismommy

He'll be fine until someone answers the post......Don't panic....Maybe you can PM Dave or Rose...I don't know the answer so I don't want to give you misinformation...

willowgirl

Thank you. I am just so upset. He has been with us for two months and I just can't believe that once I moved him to better conditions thinking that I was actually helping him, this happens.

Lucy

Hi Willow, yeah, hopefully the betta masters will be here soon and be able to help you.

Sorry your little guy is injured.
Stress Coat is a water conditioner, so I'm sure a little extra of that wouldn't hurt the bio spira.

Good luck.

willowgirl

Also, could the filter be causing the damage? I bought a hex 5 with a submersible filter. He likes to get near it. I touched it and it seems smooth but what do I know?

For those people with hex 5 tanks. Do you cover the filter somehow?

Shawnie

I would do a small water change and add all three of the above mentioned...and I had to cover my filter with sponges as their tails rip easily and mine liked going near it also and the fins would get sucked inside...I hope he does better....

Redtail_Shark14

The stress coat should do fine it helps heal fins faster and its what pet stores reccomend (trust me i work in one) but thats a good question about the filter i dont think the filter was the cause. does anyone agree IDK you never know. but just add stress coat 10ml (2tsp.) per U.S. gallon so if u have a 5g you want to add 5ml hope i helped.

Shawnie

I do think it was the filter if there are no other sharp objects...my guys love being near ours and never know he mite have got sucked in a bit while sleeping...if there is nothing else to hurt him, id go with the filter sucking him in on his fins

Lucy

Shawnie, I had been thinking the same thing.
I didn't comment because the filter was broken in my 5g hex so my husband modified it to use an HOB.

Martinismommy

I believe I have 3 tanks exactly like yours....I do not cover the filter....Here are photos of my 6 Betta tanks....Wills tank is a 55 gallon and is the aquarium of the month photo.....He has a VERY strong filtration system and has not had any problems with the filter catching his extremely long finnage.....

As you can see all my tanks are pretty much the same...All the plants in them are very soft to the touch...I have polished black rocks in Patrons, Crush and Dunns tank..Marbles in Jaggers and Lenox tank..I hope this helps.....

willowgirl

Thank you. I removed all decor until I get him somewhat stable. Plus I need to watch him with HAWK eyes. I covered the filter with a piece of fabric until I know better. I think it was the filter. I found a big piece of fin trapped in one of the holes. I will buy real plants tomorrow.

I still have the ammonia at .25. Should I be worried. I thought about putting more biospira in.

Lucy

I can't comment on the bio spira, but I would leave something in the tank that he can hide in.
If he doesn't feel secure, it could cause stress, which in turn would hinder his healing.

Shawnie

if you put the right amout for his tank size, they say it takes 7-10 days...as long as he doesnt look stressed, I would only do a small change to keep his fins looking good and to add your meds that you mentioned in the beginning.....most of your bacteria is in the filter media and decorations not so much in the water..although bs says no water changes for those days, it might help his damaged fins...

COBettaCouple

I replied over in your other thread, but reading here I'm sure now that it's the filter, as soon as I read that you have a submersible.

It's upsetting when you first experience fin loss like that, but somehow Bettas and Angels seem especially good at finding ways to get fin tears. You're taking good care of him and I'm sure you'll have his fin healing up soon.

What model filter do you have? Fish net netting cut off of a fish net is something we use to cover filter intakes so they don't suck up tiny fry and would be what I'd use on the submersible. A clean, new (sterilized with hot water) rubber band can keep it in place.

Since you just added Bio-Spira, ignore what I said about water changes until 7 days after it was added. Also, don't do water tests during the 7 days. They'll worry you if you test, but are part of the normal process.

willowgirl

Hi,

Thank you. Yes, I see that testing the water is upsetting. My Alfie and I had a rough day today.
I think the filter is an eclipse with bio-wheel. I covered the "wand" with some with a piece of heavy sterilized ( hot water) unused stocking fabric. It seems to work. I agree I am sure it was the filter.

A tad late with the water change though, I did a very small water change, about 10% with some Vitachem and Garlic guard. I used very little prime. I treated one gallon of water but I used about 4 small cups. I hope I did not upset the bio-spira. Keeping my fingers crossed. I still have the other 1/2 package just in case.

I'm so stressed out right now. I hope I did not do anything wrong.

Gosh, I wish I could fall asleep for like a week and wake up to see my Alfie back to normal. I love my little dude with all my heart.

Shawnie

I dont think a small change would hurt..and normally id say dont change for the 7-10 days but where he had some fin rippage, adding the vitachem and garlic guard with a bit of fresh water was ok ... you are doing everything right

willowgirl

Thank you. The good news is that he does not seem to mind the lack of finnage... He's eating well and being playful as usual. Mom on the other hand is kinda shaken at the moment.

COBettaCouple

Pantyhose will work, but also will clog. I read about using that when we found we had an unexpectedly pregnant platy. I thought about trying the netting off of a fish net after getting tired of cleaning off the intake frequently. But I was feeding them powdered flakes 4 times a day, so it shouldn't clog as fast in his tank. Check to be sure that the bio-wheel keeps moving, you don't want that to dry.

Don't worry about that 10% change. If you used half a package, I'd hope it doesn't affect things. You're doing fine, don't let it stress you.

They really take fin loss/damage in stride. It's really not upsetting to them, mostly to us. You're taking care of keeping him healthy, so he'll be fine. Don't worry. Our little Sweetie had tremendous fin loss & missing scales when we brought her home and just Vita-Chem alone had her fins regrowing good.

chickadee

The lack of a good cycle will hurt him much more than the lack of a water change and if you have not done the water change I would not do one. You badly need that cycle established well with fin damage. If you upset it and he has to deal with a mini cycle and the ammonia present in the water it is much more likely to cause a problem that will need medication and that you cannot do while there is new Bio-spira in the tank. If you medicate with the new Bio-spira during the first 10 days or so you may as well never have added it as it will kill the bacteria before they have a chance to establish themselves. There are some meds which do not affect the cycle but with Bio-spira things are so different I would not risk using even them. Right now you need to protect your cycle at all costs.

Rose

Lucy

I know it's stressful, but you're doing fine.

willowgirl

I did a small water change (10%), nothing I can do, the damage is done - Things have really deteriorated for me in the past 24 hrs.

I was sad to hear about your issues with your water supply and all the little water babies you lost. How are the rest of your babies doing?

chickadee

Well just watch closely and now you will need to watch for really high ammonia readings. If it gets above 1.0 then you will have to do water changes and start to do them daily 40 to 50%. I do not think that 10% water change will affect the cycle but I would not do any more if at all possible. The Bio-spira will still be strong enough providing you used more than was called for for the size tank you have. If you used the correct amount and not too much then you may have a partial cycle and need to do the water changes. But I would not do any more changes during the first week since you added the Bio-spira to give it every chance to do its work.

Thank you for asking about my fish, things are still dicey here for us all, but the bettas anyway seem to be improving. I am afraid I may lose all my Loaches and they were not inexpensive fish but I will miss their activity and company most of all. The money loss is secondary.

Rose

willowgirl

I'm sorry to hear about your Loaches. I know, money is so irrelevant in times like this. Sending you best wishes your way.

I will keep an eye on the ammonia readings. I just tested and it is still at the status quo of .25. I am hopeful this means the water change did not alter things. I added a tad more bio-spira than needed because the instructions said that it was not possible to overdose. Hopefully everything is OK.

COBettaCouple

How big is the tank? You put half of the bag in, right?

willowgirl

5 gal. I put a little over 1/2 a package.

willowgirl

Hi,
Some updates from us. Day 2 is not going well. I decided to stay home to watch after Alfie and it seems that he is losing a lot of his tail. I am not sure if this is the result of injury or finrot kicking in.
His top fin is stable. the severed part fell off but his tail is getting shorter, very fast as the day progresses. My ammonia readings with Bio-Spira are still at .25 but at this point my concern is for him. I can always try cycling the tank with bio-spira again.

I bought rid-fungus to have. My instincts tell me to remove him from this tank due to the ammonia back to his old tank for treatment with maybe the rid fungus but keeping the temperature stable will be difficult. Or I can just forget about the bio-spira cycle, do frequent daily water changes and medicate?

Things are deteriorating so fast. Please help me. I wish I had never moved him from his old tank...

Attached Images

Bad Day.JPG (99.2 KB, 6 views)

Martinismommy

Wow, he is losing tail very quickly....Do you have a cycled tank at home? If you do I'd move him into it now.....Is he eating?

willowgirl

He is eating. No, I don't have a cycled tank. His old tank had no filter. However, it looks like it had some bacteria. Ammonia readings on the old tank were zero when I removed him.

I am going to lose him, right?

Martinismommy

I don't think you'll lose him....If he is eating that's a good sign....Did you use the water from his old tank when you transferred him?