Betta fish fin rot! Help!

Hi!
I’ve gotten my betta about a week ago now, he’s in a 7 gallon tank with heater and a slow filter (to prevent a fast current) and has gravel and fake plants.
I’ve notice this morning his tail looks odd and has only caught my attention now. It’s still long but seems to be a bit separated at the ends. It seems to look like fin rot. I have cycled the tank and have done a water change this morning (25%).
The picture is from when I first got the betta . Then a few days later. Then now.
i would really like some help and I heard they can die quit soon and I’ve fell in love with my betta. please help.
the first day I got him.


A couple days later.

Now. This morning.
I’ve just orders some almond leaves, some aquarium salt(will do a 15min salt bath) and some stress and coat.
move just done a water change( I already added safe tap water) and it will come tomorrow. Will adding the stress and coat to my water without doing a change harm my betta?
also how would I safely add the leaves into the tank? I don’t want to be residue as there is a lot of issues with others.

 

Bettas come in a wide variety of fin shapes and colors. It may be that your fish is a crowntail that is just coming into its final finnage. I am not certain you have a fin rot issue.

A new fish will always experience some stress being introduced into new water. Since bettas live their lives in solitude until you bring them home, it is uncommon for them to have infections, although it is possible. The best thing you can do is to keep doing water changes to make sure their water is clean.

Since you are a new member and this is your first post, are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle and how fish waste products are converted to ammonia, then nitrite and then nitrate. If you set up your fish tank and then immediately introduced the betta, the filter has not had sufficient time to develop the colonies of bacteria and other microorganisms that are responsible for the nitrogen cycle. It would be a good idea to purchase a freshwater test kit so you can monitor pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels in both your tap water and tank water.

Write back to let the community know more about your setup.

 

Hello!
thank you so much for your quick response, you have reassured me with the ‘crowntail betta’. He is still active and eating, does occasionally take naps. However is active during the day. Yes I had cycled the tank before hand and tested all results came out good. I had used a quick start bacteria to help with the cycle.
Just incase I will do a salt bath however will this harm my betta if there isn’t anything wrong with it? Thank you again.

 

I would err on the side of caution with salt baths. It might just be enough to dose the tank with the instructions on the aquarium salt if you're worried and then eventually just let it phase out with water changes.

I think salt baths are used for more severe and certain symptoms. Too much salt for too long can burn the fins, stress your fish in general, and could cause damage where there might have been none.

 

I agree with fishwoo concerning any type of bath for bettas. While it should be OK to add a small amount of salt to the tank, a bath is normally done with higher salt concentrations. Bettas are from the anabantid family and have labyrinth organs that help them breathe air should their water become anoxic (low in oxygen). These organs are very sensitive to any type of medication. The very best medication for bettas is clean water.

 

Thank you whishywoo and Rayclem for the responses. I shall keep the salt then for an emergency seeing that my betta isn’t in a bad condition.
For the stress and coat is there any harm adding it to the tank? And the Indian Almond leaves?
Thank you so much for the help. You all have reassured me. I will update in the few days with pictures and how its fins are doing.

 

No problem! I hope everything works out well. I think API stress coat is what you mean? I think that would be ok. I use that or safe guard for my goldies. Other than that, maybe rinsing the leaves a little, not sure if that's really needed. I don't think you need to do anything else though and just added them. Looking forward to seeing updates!

 

How did you cycle the tank? With just the quick start? We are just asking because a lot of new folks have done it wrong, so it is just a safeguard to ask.

 

How did you cycle the tank? With just the quick start? We are just asking because a lot of new folks have done it wrong, so it is just a safeguard to ask.

Okay! So after placing everything in the tank I added the water, and the conditioner. Then I used the safe start bacteria and the correct amount for the tank. It said it should be fine in 24hours however I didn’t trust it and waited till the next day and I tested the water and the results were all over the place. I then added some fish food to the tank to help the bacteria grow. This is all a fishless cycle!
The day after the tank went foggy and it was a bacterial bloom. After testing for about 6 days the results seemed to go down. But it was taking a while so I decided to some more chemicals to attempt to fix the ph, nitrates and ammonia.
after about 2 weeks of testing everyday they were all at zero. However I was still noticing a bit of fog.
so I decided to add in a bit of QuickClear. This causing the floating bacteria to setting into bigger clumps and going threw the filter.
after about two days I got my betta.
Also another problem that I have noticed that is happening.
My better used to lay around the heater and now every time he slightly touches it he quickly goes away. Like a shock? I’ve touched the heater and it’s not even that warm? Could it be Broken? It does its job keeping the tank temperature. It’s currently at 27degrees celc. I don’t know what could cause this?

 

It normally takes at least 6 weeks to fully cycle a tank. Thus, it is likely that you are only part way there.
Adding chemicals to a tank in an attempt to "fix" things is often a bad idea, especially when you are new and do not know how chemicals will react. As I stated earlier, providing clean water is the best thing you can do for your betta.

The bacterial bloom in a new tank is a common phenomena. A lot of chemical and biological changes occur to tap water before it is suitable for fish. Hopefully, you are past that point.

 

It normally takes at least 6 weeks to fully cycle a tank. Thus, it is likely that you are only part way there.
Adding chemicals to a tank in an attempt to "fix" things is often a bad idea, especially when you are new and do not know how chemicals will react. As I stated earlier, providing clean water is the best thing you can do for your betta.

The bacterial bloom in a new tank is a common phenomena. A lot of chemical and biological changes occur to tap water before it is suitable for fish. Hopefully, you are past that point.

Yes the bloom had gone a while back before I got the betta.
I see what you mean about the chemical I used to clear the water.