What do you think about this fin?

MinxMermaid · August 21st, 2008

When I first got my bettas, some got fin rot and lost a good portion of their tail fins.

After treatment and vitamins, Everyone's fins are growing back really nice.

My Spade tail Ace, has these really sheer fins. I noticed one corner is a bit black.

I'm not sure if I shoud worry about this or not.

His tail is still much bigger and fuller since after the fin rot and he seems very healthy. I hate to put in meds, if i'm not sure there's an issue, but i'd hate to ignore it and him lose a good part of his tail again.

What do you think?

MinxMermaid · August 21st, 2008

Ace is the smartest of all my Bettas! He's the easiest to feed and he's very alert all the time.

After all the

here he's sticking his tongue out at me and then hiding and embarassed that I showed you all the boo boo on his tail

shellbell4ever · August 21st, 2008

To me it just looks like he's getting some more color on his tail...My Ash has the same thing on his tail after recovering from fin rot when I first got him...i could be wrong ...so wait for someone with more experience to come along.

Shawnie · August 21st, 2008

it looks like color to me also..but im not positive...I love his hidaway ! hes one handsome boy!

Allie · August 21st, 2008

It could be fin rot...I'd give him some anti bacterial meds just in case. With fin rot you get dark, or thinner around the edges..fraying, tear and holes.

COBettaCouple · August 21st, 2008

The black tends to indicate fin rot, but not always, especially with black lace and similiar Bettas being bred. I would stock Triple Sulfa and watch closely for any expansion in the black or loss of fin. Adding Garlic Guard daily would be a good thing you could start now.

MinxMermaid · August 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by COBettaCouple

The black tends to indicate fin rot, but not always, especially with black lace and similiar Bettas being bred. I would stock Triple Sulfa and watch closely for any expansion in the black or loss of fin. Adding Garlic Guard daily would be a good thing you could start now.

I've got triple sulfa and fungus eliminator.
you think garlic guard? or vita chem?
i've got both.

Martinismommy · August 21st, 2008

Jacq, it appears to me like it may be the start of finrot..I'd watch it for a few days and see if that area gets larger and if it does than start him on tri sulpha...In the meantime I'd just treat him with the rid fungus to be on the safe side......

Devon · August 21st, 2008

Agree with COBC and Karen... better to keep a close eye and start treating if anything changes... in the meantime I'd feed him a little garlic and do extra water changing.

I love that pic of him peeking out from his hiding place!! LOL!

hockeyref88 · August 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinxMermaid

Ace is the smartest of all my Bettas! He's the easiest to feed and he's very alert all the time.

After all the

here he's sticking his tongue out at me and then hiding and embarassed that I showed you all the boo boo on his tail

chickadee · August 21st, 2008

It looks like the beginning of a fungal infection to me. I would use a fungus eliminator and extra water changes for a while and garlic guard and vitachem for sure. That should take care of it but if it goes more than about 4 or 5 days without clearing up the black then start the Trisulfa or Triple Sulfa whichever you have for a course of treatment. Those fins are entirely too fragile to risk and it does look blackened to me.

Rose

MinxMermaid · August 21st, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickadee

It looks like the beginning of a fungal infection to me. I would use a fungus eliminator and extra water changes for a while and garlic guard and vitachem for sure. That should take care of it but if it goes more than about 4 or 5 days without clearing up the black then start the Trisulfa or Triple Sulfa whichever you have for a course of treatment. Those fins are entirely too fragile to risk and it does look blackened to me.

Rose

Ok,
that sounds like a good plan Rose. We just did a water change, but the the fungus eliminator i have has to be given with a 25% water change, so i'll have Rick do that on Saturday before we leave.

I do the scrubbing, feeding, loving, naming and lights out on the fish, but i don't know how to do the water changes, I'll get rick to help me with that.

Now Ace is in a divided tank with Rainbow, so if I medicate one, they both get it. you think that will be OK? when they got fin rot before, they both had it, and both their tails have have been growing back.

COBettaCouple · August 22nd, 2008

Unless both for sure had fin rot, I would only use the meds on the one who needed them, especially the antibiotics. They are harsh on the system and immunity to an antibiotic is easy to develop with more exposure to it, so treating in a hospital tank is highly recommended.

Dino · August 22nd, 2008

I agree with Dave, the fewer medications your fish is exposed to, the better off the fish will be.

MinxMermaid · August 23rd, 2008

well, i don't have a hospital tank right now. i would consider maybe switching Ace and Royal Blue, as royal blue has his own little separate tank, BUT we're going out of town tomorrow and i don't want to do this with out being home to make sure everything is OK.

also, i don't know if moving them around is a good thing. i would be afraid to put royal blue in ace's tank, lest he get whatever ace had. (if he has anything at all)

so i've just been holding tight, keeping an eye on things.

i know its time to get another hospital tank....our problem is every time the hospital is empty, we get tempted and fill it with something, then when we need it, its no longer avail as hospital

Pandora · August 23rd, 2008

A lot of the yellow bicolours like that seem to tend to have black butterfly patterns to them... that could well be all it is, just not very evenly distributed.
I sort of agree to avoid the meds until you're sure. Usually if I think my guys may be starting to have fin issues, I just add a small amount of aquarium salt and do extra water changes, and that seems to work. Haven't had to use stronger meds than that (at least not for anything to do with fins lol) for years now.

Shawnie · August 23rd, 2008

hmm got a newer pic?? im still falling on it being his color...his fins arent ripped or torn but again..im always in a world of my own

and with shellbell!! hahaha

I have had two completly loose fins, dog licker rafikki and omone jumping over to rafikki, and both recovered fully with the miracle 3...maybe ive been lucky!! but ive never used meds ...knockin on wood

MinxMermaid · August 23rd, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnie

hmm got a newer pic?? im still falling on it being his color...his fins arent ripped or torn but again..im always in a world of my own

and with shellbell!! hahaha

I have had two completly loose fins, dog licker rafikki and omone jumping over to rafikki, and both recovered fully with the miracle 3...maybe ive been lucky!! but ive never used meds ...knockin on wood

i'll see if i can get an updated pic tonite.

but YEP, i've been doing garlic, vita chem and a little peas yesterday too. i havn't used fish protector in there, should i put a little of that? or maybe a little aquarium salt.
i've never added salt to my bettas, only to my goldfish.

Shawnie · August 23rd, 2008

pandora would know more on that..ive never used it on any of my fish...I remember having salt in my boo boo's so ill pass LOL

(thought labryith fish couldnt have salt?)
but shes got the experience with it so im sure she knows what shes talking about

Pandora · August 23rd, 2008

I usually use around 1/2 teaspoon of salt per gallon when I do use it. If they're really ill will go up to 1 tsp/gal, and in a few cases of dropsy I've really dosed heavily on the salt when nothing else was working and they lived longer than most of my dropsy cases ever have. So it seems to be pretty safe for bettas (at least splendens) and at least one of the wilds (mahachi) does better with it, though I've never used in on any other wild. From my experience it does seem to help to some extent, especially with mild fin problems, but isn't going to cure anything serious.
I've never heard of anyone having a labyrinth fish having a bad reaction to salt, at least not a normal doses (up to the 1 tsp/gal). Doesn't mean it's never happened, but it at least doesn't seem to be common.
Whatever you decide to try, I hope he ends up being fine!

MinxMermaid · August 23rd, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandora

I usually use around 1/2 teaspoon of salt per gallon when I do use it. If they're really ill will go up to 1 tsp/gal, and in a few cases of dropsy I've really dosed heavily on the salt when nothing else was working and they lived longer than most of my dropsy cases ever have. So it seems to be pretty safe for bettas (at least splendens) and at least one of the wilds (mahachi) does better with it, though I've never used in on any other wild. From my experience it does seem to help to some extent, especially with mild fin problems, but isn't going to cure anything serious.
I've never heard of anyone having a labyrinth fish having a bad reaction to salt, at least not a normal doses (up to the 1 tsp/gal). Doesn't mean it's never happened, but it at least doesn't seem to be common.
Whatever you decide to try, I hope he ends up being fine!

thanks for all your imput. Good Info

COBettaCouple · August 24th, 2008

Fish Protector would be great. It provides a lot of help in fin regrowth and can even help antibiotics be more effective.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinxMermaid

i'll see if i can get an updated pic tonite.

but YEP, i've been doing garlic, vita chem and a little peas yesterday too. i havn't used fish protector in there, should i put a little of that? or maybe a little aquarium salt.
i've never added salt to my bettas, only to my goldfish.