Betta Fish With Multiple Beginner Mistakes Made

Ok... So I have kept a few bettas before, but I really messed up. I've been out of the game for a few years. I bought a Crowntail Betta yesterday and he lives in a 3.5g with a filter (light), heater, and thermometer. I saw he had small black tips on his red tail, so, figuring he had fin rot, I put in aquarium salt and Pima(or Mela)fix. Mistake 1. I being the absolutely idiotic person I am put in the freaking aquarium salt without dissolving it first with my fish in the aquarium. Mistake 2! I am so stupid that I put myself in a situation where I honestly don't know what to do. The fish is active and lively, and eating well. But the black tips are growing. I don't know what to do! RRRRGGGGG....

 

Is your tank cycled?
I would do a water change immediately, AQ salt can cause liver and kidney failure, and melafix can irritate the labyrinth organ causing it to expand, suffocating the fish. Daily water changes are all that's needed for fin rot.
Welcome to the forum

 

I'm no expert but I'd at least do a good size water change to at least dilute the salt you put in there. Don't know much about Melafix or anything like that. Also could you attach a picture so when everyone comes back on in the morning they know what they're dealing with lol

 

Thank you FlowingFins and justkeepswimming! I did a large water change, and will do another large on tomorrow. Hopefully that works.

 

Also if you have an air pump you could get going that would help with the remaining Betta fix in the water to ensure he gets enough oxygen. Betta fix irritates the labyrinth organ resulting in suffocation in smaller tanks especially not aerated ones. If not the large water changes should suffice. Please post a picture of his fins. Clean water could probably clear them up.

 

Welcome to FishLore!

Most times fin rot is the result of poor water quality. And having a fish in an uncycled tank would mean that the water quality is poor. So if you're tank is not cycled, I highly recommend you read up on the nitrogen cycle (words will be link to article).

As mentioned, clean water is usually all you need to combat fin rot.

 

jdhef I have read on the nitrogen cycle, and had cycled the water with "pre-used" gravel. I just got him, so I believe I overlooked the fin rot while purchasing him. I've been doing water changes every day, taking about 1/3 of the water out each day.
Here are 2 photos of his tail/dorsal fin:





Also- he has been spitting out whole pellets, so I assumed he couldn't swallow them. Assuming this, I tried crushing 2 different types of pellets (In case he didn't like the one), and he has been spitting out both. I have fed him a few bloodworms which he enjoyed, but I obviously can't feed him JUST bloodworms...Now I'm concerned that the water is affecting his ability to eat... But the water came back good on my tests...

 

Try fasting him and then feed maybe he isn't hungry or is just being picky lol.

 

Justkeepswimming01 I'll try that. How do his fins look?

 

They're definitely a little black on the edges but I'm sure with you taking good care of him he'll be just fine! From what I've seen this is pretty common in Bettas.

 

Justkeepswimming01 Thanks! And yeah, from what I've experienced it is common, but this is the mildest case I've ever dealt with, explaining why I didn't notice it in the store :/. All the bettas I've owned that had it had it bad, with fin decay (From the store 'habitats'). Most had their tails grow back, just not as vibrantly.

 

I agree it's not a very bad case at all

 

I have read on the nitrogen cycle, and had cycled the water with "pre-used" gravel. I just got him, so I believe I overlooked the fin rot while purchasing him. I've been doing water changes every day, taking about 1/3 of the water out each day.

Can you post your test results for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH?

Gravel does not hold a whole lot of bacteria. The reason being, you will only grow a large enough colony of bacteria to handle a given bioload. Any additional bacteria would starve off. And that bacteria wants to grow in the best "home" which is in the filter media. So since the filter media is the best place, the colony in the filter media out competes bacteria that may be trying to set up shop in the gravel.