Do Indian Almond Leaves Have Any Negative Effect On Fishes Other Than Bettas?

My betta has got some torn fins. I suspect or I am afraid that it is fin rot. I have been keeping bettas for quite sometime but this is the first time I have experienced torn fins. I am not quite sure if it is really fin rot or just some torn fins. My tank is a 10 gallons sparsely planted tank with a betta, 5 lemon tetras and 2 otocinclus catfish. I have some mild algae growth in my tank for my otos.
Coming to the original topic, I want to cure the betta's fin rot if it really is what I am thinking. I wanted to add Indian almond or catappa leaves to the tank to cure the fin rot. Will it have any negative affect on my other fishes? As I have already said I have lemon tetras and otocinclus in the tank? And I wanted to know if the algae had anything to do with the fin rot? Also please do suggest me some alternative that I can try to cure the fin rot.
Thank you in advance.

 

IAL should not have any negative effects towards your fish. Your tetras and otocinclus can withstand acid water (pH of around 5-6 should not yield negative effects).

 

I can't speak towards the almond leaves (although I'm fairly certain they won't harm the other fish). But for fin rot my suggestion is increase the water changes. How often do you change the water at this point?

Many, many, many infections and diseases are caused due to poor water quality. The easiest way to cure/heal most of them is to keep pristine water quality. Whether that means doing 2 water changes a week, or doing one every day, depends on what you have in your tank and how well it is cycled.

 

I can't speak towards the almond leaves (although I'm fairly certain they won't harm the other fish). But for fin rot my suggestion is increase the water changes. How often do you change the water at this point?

Many, many, many infections and diseases are caused due to poor water quality. The easiest way to cure/heal most of them is to keep pristine water quality. Whether that means doing 2 water changes a week, or doing one every day, depends on what you have in your tank and how well it is cycled.

I do 20-30% water changes once or twice weekly. Is it not enough? I had done large water changes in the past and it resulted in my fishes dying. So I restrict myself now. I use a normal dechlorinator too as I don't have access to RO water.

 

What dechlorinator do you use? I'm partial to seachem prime and I'm usually pretty liberal with the use of it. It's good to remove chlorine, chloramine, converts ammonia and also detoxify heavy metals in the water. Typically I double the dose.

Honestly I can't speak towards your previous fish dying. I've done complete (like 100%) water changes and never lost a fish. That's in completely new water (moved across country) and completely cleaned the tank at the time.

I would increase it to 20-30% everyday to every other day, or do a 50% change twice a week. Just until he heals up

 

Tannins just make water brackish - driftwood does the same, it shouldn't hurt other fish. I use magnolia leaves from my yard ( no chemicals, pristine, on ground {more dried out} and clean looking) , boiled & sit 2 days in a jar. No fin rot.

My water was bad in June ( extra chlorine) I used bottled water + dechlorination for about 2-3 weeks. I plan on using bottled water in the very cold months when doing large water changes.

My male elephant ear Betta Percy had a fin that had a split nearly halfway through. Used Dr Tim's aquatics a few times & he's fine. Frequent water changes & dosed him a few times with Dr Tim, healed up nicely. Just took time.

Good luck!!!

 

Tannins just make water brackish - driftwood does the same, it shouldn't hurt other fish. I use magnolia leaves from my yard ( no chemicals, pristine, on ground {more dried out} and clean looking) , boiled & sit 2 days in a jar. No fin rot.

I think you mean "blackwater", not brackish water. Brackish water is water that contains a salinity between freshwater and marine levels, such as is found in marshes and estuaries.

I have also used magnolia for the same affect, shrimp love to eat the leaves, too.

 

By the way, you have some stocking issues if you’d like to discuss them.

 

The best thing I have found for me at least is water change, water change and more water changes.

 

By the way, you have some stocking issues if you’d like to discuss them.

Do you think it is overstocked?

The best thing I have found for me at least is water change, water change and more water changes.

Shall I do daily water change for some days? I am afraid that doing daily changes might cause changes in water parameters now and then and might stress out the fish. I feel like doing water changes in 2 days will help me with it. What do you think?

 

Bettas tend to be best in their own tank. Lemon tetras need schools of at least 6 and a minimum of 20g. Otos also need 20g.