Betta has ripped fins, help!

Hi everyone! I really need your help. I have a betta, his name is Mayo. He has a 3.5 gallon tank, with a heater, a filter and a live plant. The other plants that are fake are silk plants. He is having some issues with his fins. I thought at first it could be fin rot and added some primafix and stress coat. I only got him a week ago and just added some new rocks and gravel to his tank so I thought maybe that stressed him out. He is swimming around the tank normally and eating normally. His bottom fins look shredded though and a chunk fell out while he was swimming around. When I came to turn his light on today he seemed stuck next to a rock. I tapped on the glass and he didn’t move so I moved the rock and he started to swim around. Could the rock have shredded his fin? The rock is ceramic and very smooth on the inside where he can hide but just a tiny bit rough on the outside. Not even rough but more like gritty. I’m really concerned as I just lost my last fish due to a severe fungal infection I didn’t catch in time. I’ve added some pictures of his fins and the rocks that are in his tank. Thank you!!

 

Is your tank cycled and what are your current water parameters? Did you buy him like that or did it happen over a week after adding him?

 

It just happened last night. The tank is fully cycled. I added a bacteria supplement and let it cycle for 6 weeks before adding him. His ammonia and nitrite levels are 0.

 

to me it does look like he could have fin rot on the back of his tail. if you use medicine this can be cured.

 

The key to battling fin rot is water changes. I would start with 25% WCs adding back in temp matched & conditioned water . I know SeaChem Paraguard helps with fin rot and Indian almond leaves releases natural antibacterial properties called Tannin . I would order some too , they help with stress and provide hiding areas.

 

Ok, how often should I be doing water changes? I do 25% every week. Now do you find the balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria?

to me it does look like he could have fin rot on the back of his tail. if you use medicine this can be cured.

Is primafix a good brand to cure fin rot? I’ve also been adding stress coat daily to help his slime layer. I also have methadone blue that I do a fish bath in.

The fin rot is worse today! Help!

 

Are you treating him with anything? Did you add in the indian almond leaves or roobios tea.

That generic primafix wont do much. I suggest either Kanaplex if servere or Seachem Paraguard for now

 

Where do I get Indian almond leaves or roobios tea? I have methylene blue that I could do a bath in.

 

i get mine on amazon ! but the best way to help fin rot is daily water changes with conditioned water and a medication. Ive had success with Seachem Paraguard but I know Methylene blue helps with fin rot as well.

Indian Almond Leaves <--amazon link

 

Hi, just saw this thread. How is he now? You can get roiboos tea at most grocery stores, better from a natural foods place if you can find one open. Organic is better and make sure there is absolutely nothing else but roiboos. I'm treating my betta with roiboos right now because he either bit or ripped his fins yesterday...I hope something is working for you!

Cheers,
Stacia

 

25% weekly water change in a 3.5 gallon is not enough. Should be 50% or more because the tank is so small. Are you using a gravel vacuum for water changes? It's important to use one because it sucks up the fish waste from the gravel. The fish waste as it decomposes produces ammonia and can lead to fin rot.

You need a gravel vac if you don't have one, and 25% water changes every other day until his fins heal. Don't add medications if you can help it, a lot of the time they can do more harm than good. A lot of people look for a "quick fix" but there isn't one. Just keep up with water changes and make sure the water is 80-82 degrees while he is healing. You'll need a heater for this if you don't already have one.

Indian almond leaves are fine, just remove once they start decomposing. If you're adding stress coat literally just put a single drop over his body, I like to use an oral syringe for a precise measurement bc I have a larger bottle.

 

Yes, your fish has fin rot. Can we know your exact water parameters? What test kit are you using? You have gotten some good information. I would say 30% water changes every other day, set the temp to 82 degrees, and add Indian Almond Leaves and rooibos tea, if possible. I know I just repeated what others said but that should be enough to help him/her get better. It's not that severe yet, so it's not too late to fix it. In my opinion, you shouldn't use any meds unless it doesn't get better after around a week. Also, what conditioner are you using to treat the water when doing water changes?