Betta fins not regrowing

I have a betta who had had damage (I think) to his fins and they are simply not regrowing.

Plakat betta about a year old

Split 20 gallon long
Temp 78
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates <10

I first noticed his dorsal and tail fins had damage - happened almost overnight - in late March. The betta in the other side of the tank was from the same breeder and his fins are perfect. Between the acute onset and the other betta being fine, I don’t suspect fin rot but not 100% sure.

His dorsal fin is just sort of withered and his tail is shredded. I’m not seeing new growth at all. The rays on his tail are partly intact.

I put him in a quarantine tank and did daily partial water changes from March 24 until April 18. I added Stress Guard and lowered the temp 77° in case it was bacterial/fungal.

I backed off on the water changes to every other day mid-April when I saw his tail wasn’t getting worse. But it wasn’t growing either.

I’ve attached photos from when I first got him in September then March 24, April 18, and one from today where it looks like things are getting worse again.

He is eating, active, and seems happy. He’s not as fast as he was with full finnage, but swims around his whole tank. The water changes do not stress him out at all. I have removed anything in his tank that could cause damage.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice ?

 

Maybe try using some stress coat. I hear it can help promote regrowth.

 

Thanks. Any thoughts on cause? I’ve seen rips in betta fins heal in a matter of a few days, so to see zero regrowth is concerning to me. Do you think it looks like fin rot?

 

To me it looks like some pretty nasty fin rot. I've had bettas in the past that for some reason would get fin rot here and there over the years I had them even when all the parameters and tank conditions were perfect. I have kept much more intermediate fish than bettas with no problems but no matter how many times I try with bettas over the years they always end up being a fish I have to medicate for some reason. It leads me to believe that much like dwarf gouramis the trade has started to overfarm them too much which is resulting in fish with super weak immune systems. At any rate, I would start with a hardcore treatment for bacterial infection because to me that's what it looks like (different than tail nipping because of the melted plastic look of the fins). Usually fungus will take on a cottony form. I'd place him in a dedicated hospital tank, just a heater, airstone, and fake plant to chill in and treat with either api fin and body cure, furan 2, e.r. ethromycin, or triple sulfa. They pretty much all treat the same thing. I personally have used furan 2 and ethromycin for my bettas. Just be aware that these will knock out cycled filter media which is why you only need an airstone, but that requires you to do every other day 90% WCs to ensure water quality to avoid making your bettas condition worse. To make it easier for me when I treat my bettas I just fill a 5 gal halfway (so 2 gal) and on WC day I siphon out enough water that my betta can still swim upright and use the tank thermometer to temp match the water so you don't shock him. It can be hard to measure the API meds in such small volumes. One packet treats 10 gal, so to treat 2 gal I take a razor blade and divide the powder in half and then in half again and you have roughly 2 gallon dose. Once a week or so the tank would start to get a bit gunky from the meds so I would scoop my betta in a cup, empty the tank and rinse it and wipe it down and then refill and put him back in. The only other alternative to using medication would be to try clean warm water (I'd do multiple small WCs a week) and some Indian almond leaves.

 

Wow thanks for the detailed response!

I only wish I could get Furan or any sort of antibiotic. I live in Canada and it’s easier to get codeine than antibiotics.

I hear what you are saying on how some bettas are overbred. Why I went to plakats - plus I hated watching them try to swim with all the big fins (no judgement, just my opinion). I have 9 tanks from 10g to 55 with a range of fish and have had the most issues with bettas and panda coreys. I’ve just never seen this before.

Perhaps I will try aquarium salt since I can’t get any antibiotics. He’s already in a hospital tank. Thanks again!

 

Wow thanks for the detailed response!

I only wish I could get Furan or any sort of antibiotic. I live in Canada and it’s easier to get codeine than antibiotics.

I hear what you are saying on how some bettas are overbred. Why I went to plakats - plus I hated watching them try to swim with all the big fins (no judgement, just my opinion). I have 9 tanks from 10g to 55 with a range of fish and have had the most issues with bettas and panda coreys. I’ve just never seen this before.

Perhaps I will try aquarium salt since I can’t get any antibiotics. He’s already in a hospital tank. Thanks again!

Dang it!! I've given medication advice to a few members before only to be at a loss when they say they are in Canada. I guess I can understand the laws though, bacterial meds can make certain bacterial strains immune to medication and I could see that being problematic for the environment. I would try tannins before the salt, betta farmers swear by them for fin issues. Personally I've never tried the almond leaves (just get them from a reputable source apparently there are some they sell that aren't actually Indian almond leaves) but a lot of people that keep bettas turn to that as an initial treatment for a lot of stuff, and a good deal of members here will recommend that to people as well.

 

Sorry, I was editing my post to include that I was from Canada and you were too fast and answered!
I have IAL in his tank now but will step it up.

Thank you so much for the quick replies. I guess I was in denial about the fin rot given how fast his tail was destroyed and that his tankmate never showed any signs of it. This is the first time in 15 years I’ve ever had a fish with fin rot - point of foolish pride on my part.

Thank you again - I’ll get going on his treatment and maybe my dog/cat vet will help me out with an Rx.

 

Sorry, I was editing my post to include that I was from Canada and you were too fast and answered!
I have IAL in his tank now but will step it up.

Thank you so much for the quick replies. I guess I was in denial about the fin rot given how fast his tail was destroyed and that his tankmate never showed any signs of it. This is the first time in 15 years I’ve ever had a fish with fin rot - point of foolish pride on my part.

Thank you again - I’ll get going on his treatment and maybe my dog/cat vet will help me out with an Rx.

Don't beat yourself up too hard. Bettas are such a fun fish to keep which is why I got back into them after a few years without, I now have 2 and remember why I love them so much. I wouldn't consider myself a novice fishkeeper any more, but even so with a properly set up aquarium I've always struggled with them. It is extra frustrating when you see people keep them in unheated unfiltered bowls/vases and their bettas live for years and people that provide a proper environment lose them to infections and dropsy. With bettas it seems like sometimes there's no rhyme or reason with fin rot. The vet can definitely help you out if they are willing, truthfully a good deal of human/animal antibiotics are able to be given to fish although im not sure about how to administer those. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I hear you on the frustration of trying to provide the best for them and they still succumb to illness while hearing about vase prisoners never getting sick They really are charming fish with loads of personality. Here’s hoping the Indian Almond leaves do their thing for my guy.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me!

 

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I hear you on the frustration of trying to provide the best for them and they still succumb to illness while hearing about vase prisoners never getting sick They really are charming fish with loads of personality. Here’s hoping the Indian Almond leaves do their thing for my guy.

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me!

Of course! That's what everyone is here for

 

I recommend Indian Almond leaves instead of any sort of antibiotic, only in desperate situation I would use antibiotics.

 

I recommend Indian Almond leaves instead of any sort of antibiotic, only in desperate situation I would use antibiotics.

OP already had Indian almond leaves in the treatment tank

 

I recommend Indian Almond leaves instead of any sort of antibiotic, only in desperate situation I would use antibiotics.

Thanks for your reply! I do have IAL in the tank and live in Canada so do not have OTC access to antibiotics. I’ve increased and freshened the leaves. Not desperate yet but will keep a close eye. Thanks again for your reply ☺️

 

I have a betta who had had damage (I think) to his fins and they are simply not regrowing.

Plakat betta about a year old

Split 20 gallon long
Temp 78
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates <10

I first noticed his dorsal and tail fins had damage - happened almost overnight - in late March. The betta in the other side of the tank was from the same breeder and his fins are perfect. Between the acute onset and the other betta being fine, I don’t suspect fin rot but not 100% sure.

His dorsal fin is just sort of withered and his tail is shredded. I’m not seeing new growth at all. The rays on his tail are partly intact.

I put him in a quarantine tank and did daily partial water changes from March 24 until April 18. I added Stress Guard and lowered the temp 77° in case it was bacterial/fungal.

I backed off on the water changes to every other day mid-April when I saw his tail wasn’t getting worse. But it wasn’t growing either.

I’ve attached photos from when I first got him in September then March 24, April 18, and one from today where it looks like things are getting worse again.

He is eating, active, and seems happy. He’s not as fast as he was with full finnage, but swims around his whole tank. The water changes do not stress him out at all. I have removed anything in his tank that could cause damage.

Does anyone have any thoughts or advice ?

I would put the temp back up to around 79º, if they're too cold their immune system gets compromised. I would also add tannins through indian almond leaves or driftwood, etc. Keep up with the frequent water changes.

 

I would put the temp back up to around 79º, if they're too cold their immune system gets compromised. I would also add tannins through indian almond leaves or driftwood, etc. Keep up with the frequent water changes.

Thanks for your reply! My research has said tannins from driftwood lack the properties of IAL although staining the water will help with stress. There are already IAL in the tank which I have refreshed.

I’m not sure about the temperature- it’s a catch 22. If the fin rot is caused by pseudomonas bacteria as is often cited, that bacteria positively thrives in 79° water. If you go to 10 sites, most of them betta-specific, some say leave the temp, the others say to lower it. Argh! So, what is “too cold” and can you get an indication from behaviour? He’s continued to be very active and eats well at 77, which is sort of my trade-off temp to slow the bacteria without impacting his immune system.

Edited to add: Your advice is appreciated. At this point I don’t know if the lowered temp has slowed the fin rot or not. Will leave it at 77 for 5 days, if no improvement will raise it slowly to see if that helps! Thanks again.

 

Thanks for your reply! My research has said tannins from driftwood lack the properties of IAL although staining the water will help with stress. There are already IAL in the tank which I have refreshed.

I’m not sure about the temperature- it’s a catch 22. If the fin rot is caused by pseudomonas bacteria as is often cited, that bacteria positively thrives in 79° water. If you go to 10 sites, most of them betta-specific, some say leave the temp, the others say to lower it. Argh! So, what is “too cold” and can you get an indication from behaviour? He’s continued to be very active and eats well at 77, which is sort of my trade-off temp to slow the bacteria without impacting his immune system.

Edited to add: Your advice is appreciated. At this point I don’t know if the lowered temp has slowed the fin rot or not. Will leave it at 77 for 5 days, if no improvement will raise it slowly to see if that helps! Thanks again.

No you want to slowly lower the temperature for bacterial to slow the rate of it growing and the infection spreading (which considering the absence of fluffy fungus is what I'm assuming it is). Keep the temp between 75-76 your betta will be just fine. If you don't see any improvement with the IAL then I would try 1tsp per gallon aquarium salt (premix into a cup of water to make a brine and add a little bit each 30-60 minutes until the cup is gone. Do daily 90% WCs but do not exceed 10 days for the salt treatment.

Edit: to make you feel better my bettas water is between 76-78 on any given day and he is perfectly happy when it's 76 in there