Energic betta has unusual fin rot

Hello! I need help with my betta, he's suffering from fin rot and I don't know if he's getting better or what I should do.
Fishy has a 5 gallon tank with a heater (26-26.5 degrees celsius) and a filter. I also have two plants and a little boat. I used to change 25-30% of his water every 5-7 days (now more often because of the treatment). Despite his condition, he was never letargic. He has a great appetite and is always swimming around, I can barely take pictures of him.
For a little background:
I noticed his fins to be ripped around one month ago. I also saw 3-4 red points at the end of some fins and also some small black points. Also one of his small fins got a white fuzz. I live in Romania and our pet shops aren't equipped with treatments for fish (we basically have only 2 and it's driving me crazy). First I tried Sera Baktopur Direct (the pills) and I used them as explained in the instructions. I used them for 2 weeks and his red spots, black spots and fuzz are gone now. I though I was done and it actually looked like he had some fin regrowth. For refference, this is him after the treatment:


Then some black spots started to appear again and one more red spot. I tried using Seachem KanaPlex (my other and only alternative) but it had no effect at all. I treated him again (this was this week) with Sera Baktopur and those are gone again. I keep treating him but I do not see improvement in his fins: 2-3 of them look like they're disintegrating at their ends, I do not know if you can see it in this picture (today):




I also use alder cones to help with fin regrowth.
I do not know what to do, for how long I should keep this treatment or if he's okay. As I said, he never stopped being eager for food or swimming around like crazy.

 

I have never used meds for finrot. Changing about 25-50% 4-5 times a week for a few weeks or until regrowth has started has always worked for me.

Once healed, i would add a 2nd water change to your weekly schedule, should help keep from coming back, especially since a 5 gal tank the water can get mucked up pretty quick.

 

I have never used meds for finrot. Changing about 25-50% 4-5 times a week for a few weeks or until regrowth has started has always worked for me.

Once healed, i would add a 2nd water change to your weekly schedule, should help keep from coming back, especially since a 5 gal tank the water can get mucked up pretty quick.

Thank you for your reply! Do you think this will work considering your previous experiences? I'm worrying that it's too advanced. Looking at his fins, does it look that bad to you? He's been like this for 2 months now. I don't really know and all pictures I've seen are either incipient or really really bad.

 

Does he try to lay or squeeze behind the heater? That may be where he is getting some fin damage. Or, if there is a way for him to get tangled up in the boat decor, that might be what's doing this. Or, he could be fin nipping, which happens when they reach sexual maturity sometimes.

I agree with BigManAquatics...up the water changes. Pristine water does wonders for fin issues.

If you want, and if he is the only tank inhabitant, you can try dosing with aquarium salt for no longer than 10 days. That may help speed up the healing.

And you can maybe add some more alder cones to get that water nice and brown. Tannins do help with preventing low level bacterial problems.

Maybe try to get the tank water as dark as this...my boy Flash in his 5 gallon...

Hope this helps!

 

Thank you for your reply! Do you think this will work considering your previous experiences? I'm worrying that it's too advanced. Looking at his fins, does it look that bad to you? He's been like this for 2 months now. I don't really know and all pictures I've seen are either incipient or really really bad.

The first fish i did this with had all fins rotted down to halfway or less still intact.

 

Does he try to lay or squeeze behind the heater? That may be where he is getting some fin damage. Or, if there is a way for him to get tangled up in the boat decor, that might be what's doing this. Or, he could be fin nipping, which happens when they reach sexual maturity sometimes.

I agree with BigManAquatics...up the water changes. Pristine water does wonders for fin issues.

If you want, and if he is the only tank inhabitant, you can try dosing with aquarium salt for no longer than 10 days. That may help speed up the healing.

And you can maybe add some more alder cones to get that water nice and brown. Tannins do help with preventing low level bacterial problems.

Maybe try to get the tank water as dark as this...my boy Flash in his 5 gallon...

Hope this helps!

There is a 2 centimeter space between the top of the filter (the flat part, not the tubes) and the surface of the water and he squeezes in there when he sleeps, but that's pretty much it. I will go ahead with the water changes and I will try to block that space for him (he's going to hate me) and even remove the boat. I will keep you posted.
Unfortunately we have no aquariun salt in our shops, I looked it up for hours. Is there any way to replace it with some kind of salt you may find at a regular store?

 

So sorry that you can't find what you need!!!

If you can find some Kosher salt, or non-iodized rock salt, those can work. Aquarium salt does not have iodine or anti-caking agents, so those are things you would want to avoid at all costs. If you can find either of these, make sure that you dissolve the salt in a small amount of tank water first before adding it to the tank. You could also give the fish a bath with the salt instead of using it directly in the tank.

It's best not to use salt for more than 10 days in a row. Over use of salt can be harmful to the fish, and can make the salt ineffective over time.

Just some suggestions....If you can find something like a floating betta log, or maybe a tall, large leaf plant that is close to the top of the tank, he might sleep there. He might also like some real floating plants, if you can get any of those. (You can see a pic of the floating betta log in the pic that I posted.) It's all about them feeling safe, protected, and hidden, I think. They love to squeeze in small spaces, and long finned bettas can have issues with that if their fins get caught or tangled up in decor or hard, sharp pieces of anything.

I don't know what your light schedule is like, but bettas need a good 14 hours of lights out. They like dim light over bright light...another stress reliever for him.

I do hope that you can find what you need!

 

So sorry that you can't find what you need!!!

If you can find some Kosher salt, or non-iodized rock salt, those can work. Aquarium salt does not have iodine or anti-caking agents, so those are things you would want to avoid at all costs. If you can find either of these, make sure that you dissolve the salt in a small amount of tank water first before adding it to the tank. You could also give the fish a bath with the salt instead of using it directly in the tank.

It's best not to use salt for more than 10 days in a row. Over use of salt can be harmful to the fish, and can make the salt ineffective over time.

Just some suggestions....If you can find something like a floating betta log, or maybe a tall, large leaf plant that is close to the top of the tank, he might sleep there. He might also like some real floating plants, if you can get any of those. (You can see a pic of the floating betta log in the pic that I posted.) It's all about them feeling safe, protected, and hidden, I think. They love to squeeze in small spaces, and long finned bettas can have issues with that if their fins get caught or tangled up in decor or hard, sharp pieces of anything.

I don't know what your light schedule is like, but bettas need a good 14 hours of lights out. They like dim light over bright light...another stress reliever for him.

I do hope that you can find what you need!

I turn off his lights for 10 hours. I will change his schedule to 12 hours so I don't confuse him; he already knows when his time for sleep comes even before the lights go out.
I have been looking for floating plants, but no success. I've also looked for smooth things for him to hide in (like the log you mentioned) but no success either. Everything I find in shops are for decorative purposes only and they all seem to have sharp edges, it's driving me crazy.

I found a betta leaf in a shop from another city (that's the only place where they had it) and I will get it in a week. I hope he will like it. I will also keep searching for floating plants and logs wherever I go. The fact that I can't give him everything he needs only because pet shops here are ill equipped with fish stuff breaks my heart.

I will also find him some Kosher salt. Would you mind telling me how much to add to his tank every day? I'm afraid that if I look it up online I will find different dosages and I don't want to make a mistake.

I turn off his lights for 10 hours. I will change his schedule to 12 hours so I don't confuse him; he already knows when his time for sleep comes even before the lights go out.
I have been looking for floating plants, but no success. I've also looked for smooth things for him to hide in (like the log you mentioned) but no success either. Everything I find in shops are for decorative purposes only and they all seem to have sharp edges, it's driving me crazy.

I found a betta leaf in a shop from another city (that's the only place where they had it) and I will get it in a week. I hope he will like it. I will also keep searching for floating plants and logs wherever I go. The fact that I can't give him everything he needs only because pet shops here are ill equipped with fish stuff breaks my heart.

I will also find him some Kosher salt. Would you mind telling me how much to add to his tank every day? I'm afraid that if I look it up online I will find different dosages and I don't want to make a mistake.

Small update: I looked up kosher salt and we don't have that here, at least not under this name. The best match I found is: coarse sea salt, non-iodized and no anti-caking agents. Does this sound good?

 

I turn off his lights for 10 hours. I will change his schedule to 12 hours so I don't confuse him; he already knows when his time for sleep comes even before the lights go out.
I have been looking for floating plants, but no success. I've also looked for smooth things for him to hide in (like the log you mentioned) but no success either. Everything I find in shops are for decorative purposes only and they all seem to have sharp edges, it's driving me crazy.

I found a betta leaf in a shop from another city (that's the only place where they had it) and I will get it in a week. I hope he will like it. I will also keep searching for floating plants and logs wherever I go. The fact that I can't give him everything he needs only because pet shops here are ill equipped with fish stuff breaks my heart.

I will also find him some Kosher salt. Would you mind telling me how much to add to his tank every day? I'm afraid that if I look it up online I will find different dosages and I don't want to make a mistake.

Small update: I looked up kosher salt and we don't have that here, at least not under this name. The best match I found is: coarse sea salt, non-iodized and no anti-caking agents. Does this sound good?

I know you don't have access to Amazon in Romania, but are there other online marketplaces? My brief research came up with emag.ro & I know others in Romania (similarly frustrated) have found online resources for limited aquarium supplies.

While I've not personally used substitutes for aquarium salt, I 100% trust Rose of Sharon's recommendations. From what I've found, sea salt is considered too highly mineralized for use in freshwater tanks. I'd stick to daily water changes, 82F heat & a maximum of 8 hours of dim light - or no light but ambient - for this betta as he heals.

You may have tried this, so please forgive the suggestion if you have, but have you looked in both grocery & hardware stores for the kosher or non-iodized rock salt - or other tank items?

Aquarium hobbyists often find what they need in unusual places. For instance, small plumbing elbows can be found amongst plumbing supplies & they're safe as hides. Too, a broad polyester plant leaf, sold as decor, can be secured with super glue gel or fishing line, to a suction cup found in hardware stores & used as a betta leaf. There may be alternatives around you to reduce reliance on ill-stocked local fish stores.

I hope something here helps & your betta continues to heal. Without access to a suitable salt - pristine water, dimness, heat & tannin filled waters really are your best bet. It would be good if you can keep us updated on your little guy.

 

I know you don't have access to Amazon in Romania, but are there other online marketplaces? My brief research came up with emag.ro & I know others in Romania (similarly frustrated) have found online resources for limited aquarium supplies.

While I've not personally used substitutes for aquarium salt, I 100% trust Rose of Sharon's recommendations. From what I've found, sea salt is considered too highly mineralized for use in freshwater tanks. I'd stick to daily water changes, 82F heat & a maximum of 8 hours of dim light - or no light but ambient - for this betta as he heals.

You may have tried this, so please forgive the suggestion if you have, but have you looked in both grocery & hardware stores for the kosher or non-iodized rock salt - or other tank items?

Aquarium hobbyists often find what they need in unusual places. For instance, small plumbing elbows can be found amongst plumbing supplies & they're safe as hides. Too, a broad polyester plant leaf, sold as decor, can be secured with super glue gel or fishing line, to a suction cup found in hardware stores & used as a betta leaf. There may be alternatives around you to reduce reliance on ill-stocked local fish stores.

I hope something here helps & your betta continues to heal. Without access to a suitable salt - pristine water, dimness, heat & tannin filled waters really are your best bet. It would be good if you can keep us updated on your little guy.

Yes, emag.ro has the biggest variety of items, although I found no kosher salt there. I will keep looking in other shops like you suggested.

Also your suggestion with plumbing elbows is really nice! I will go buy one, I haven't thought of improvising.

I will keep you updated! In case I find kosher salt, it would really help me if you told me the right dosage. Thank you for all your help!

 

Yes, emag.ro has the biggest variety of items, although I found no kosher salt there. I will keep looking in other shops like you suggested.

Also your suggestion with plumbing elbows is really nice! I will go buy one, I haven't thought of improvising.

I will keep you updated! In case I find kosher salt, it would really help me if you told me the right dosage. Thank you for all your help!

Hope you find the alternatives you're looking for - either in a marketplace or non-aquarium stores. There's a DIY section here on fishlore if you're interested in that for other needs.

The dosage I recommend for aquarium salt for fin rot is 1 - 1.5 teaspoons, per gallon, pre-dissolved, with 50% water change every 24-48 hours before re-dosing at 1 & finally .5 tsp before ending treatment.

Salt will kill live plants so the animal should be transferred to a heated/bubbled hospital tank for treatment or plants removed from the main tank & several water changes done before they are returned.

I've researched the use of kosher salt as a substitute for aquarium salt & can find no reasonable recommendations for doseage. I would assume they can be used in the same dosages, except that it seems even kosher salt can contain anti-caking agents. They're minimal it seems & in small amounts, not a big concern. Given this, & if I were in a real pinch, I'd use the kosher salt starting at 1 teaspoon per gallon as the max & reducing from there.

In this case tho, I really think clean water, heat, tannins & reduced lighting will be the most effective as well as safest options for your little guy. His fin issues have been healing, there appears to be no inflammation & no encroachment on his body.

Hope it helps & you keep us updated!

 

Hope you find the alternatives you're looking for - either in a marketplace or non-aquarium stores. There's a DIY section here on fishlore if you're interested in that for other needs.

The dosage I recommend for aquarium salt for fin rot is 1 - 1.5 teaspoons, per gallon, pre-dissolved, with 50% water change every 24-48 hours before re-dosing at 1 & finally .5 tsp before ending treatment.

Salt will kill live plants so the animal should be transferred to a heated/bubbled hospital tank for treatment or plants removed from the main tank & several water changes done before they are returned.

I've researched the use of kosher salt as a substitute for aquarium salt & can find no reasonable recommendations for doseage. I would assume they can be used in the same dosages, except that it seems even kosher salt can contain anti-caking agents. They're minimal it seems & in small amounts, not a big concern. Given this, & if I were in a real pinch, I'd use the kosher salt starting at 1 teaspoon per gallon as the max & reducing from there.

In this case tho, I really think clean water, heat, tannins & reduced lighting will be the most effective as well as safest options for your little guy. His fin issues have been healing, there appears to be no inflammation & no encroachment on his body.

Hope it helps & you keep us updated!

I can't seem to find any kosher salt online and I've been to 3 big stores today. I will probably order some aquarium salt from outside the country and in the meantime I will keep changing his water daily. I will come back with an update next week or sooner if the case gets worse (hopefully not).

Thank you again so much!

 

So sorry that you are having so much trouble with this!

The water changes will help a lot. And I agree with Aquanata, too, on all recommendations.

I have used non-iodized salt to treat betta fin rot before, but I did not use it for very long (2 or 3 days at most).

But Aquanata is right...it's best to get real aquarium salt, even if it means ordering out of country.

 

3rd day update:
I don't know if it's getting better or not. On the one hand, I can see some small regrowth (green), but on the other hand there are still 2-3 places where the area looks affected and very small bits look 'disintegrated' (red).

Can you tell me your opinion on how this looks, please?

 

Is he getting a high protein food? Does he have crowntail genes? Crowntails are bred to have fin rot

 

Is he getting a high protein food? Does he have crowntail genes? Crowntails are bred to have fin rot

I feed him granules by Tetra. Also no, I don't think he has. This is him before all of this started:

 

Crowntails are bred to have fin rot

Where on earth did you see that, why would breeders breed fish to have fin rot?

 

3rd day update:
I don't know if it's getting better or not. On the one hand, I can see some small regrowth (green), but on the other hand there are still 2-3 places where the area looks affected and very small bits look 'disintegrated' (red).

Can you tell me your opinion on how this looks, please?

He has a way to go yet & 3 days isn't going to heal him up. It should help stop further rot tho.

Can we re-cap a bit? You're keeping his water pristine I know. Re-check these:

Lights off or dim for no more than 8 hrs.
Water temp 82F
Added catappa/almond leaves - several to the point the water turns a bit tea coloured

And no more than 6-8 pellets a day, preferably split into 2 feedings.

Anything definite about being able to get aquarium salt from out of country? He still looks like he *is* healing but the salt would be a quicker precaution.

You're doing well by this beauty Andagrn & his fin condition today rings no alarm bells for me.

 

He has a way to go yet & 3 days isn't going to heal him up. It should help stop further rot tho.

Can we re-cap a bit? You're keeping his water pristine I know. Re-check these:

Lights off or dim for no more than 8 hrs.
Water temp 82F
Added catappa/almond leaves - several to the point the water turns a bit tea coloured

And no more than 6-8 pellets a day, preferably split into 2 feedings.

Anything definite about being able to get aquarium salt from out of country? He still looks like he *is* healing but the salt would be a quicker precaution.

You're doing well by this beauty Andagrn & his fin condition today rings no alarm bells for me.

I have reprogrammed his light to stay on only for 8 hours since you told me.

I do not have catappa leaves, but I do use alder cones so that his water is brown ish.

His temperature right now is 80.5F.

I have always fed him 2 times a day, each time 2 pallets, so that means 4 pallets a day. Sometimes I feed him 3 because he got constipated a few months ago when I was always feeding him 4. He seems okay with the amount of food, he isn't that big of a betta.

The only way I could get salt is through Amazon, the delivery is more expensive than the salt itself and it takes one month to deliver. If you think that I should get it and that in a month it'll still help him, I'll order it in no time.

Here is a picture of him and his aquarium right now (if you want to see the color of the water or anything else):


He's okay by the way, he just likes to get tangled up in his plant.

I will also get him a floating plant in two weeks from another city (I couldn't find any here).

 

Where on earth did you see that, why would breeders breed fish to have fin rot?

Theyre bred so that part of the webbing of their tail rots away early, that's how they achieve the crowntail look. Also why they tend to have shorter lifespans than other varieties. Just something I've read about on betta forums, for example post by Diana Walstad

I feed him granules by Tetra. Also no, I don't think he has. This is him before all of this started:

That doesnt seem like the proper food. Check if it has at least 50% protein, and the main ingredient is meat rather than plant filler

 

Theyre bred so that part of the webbing of their tail rots away early, that's how they achieve the crowntail look. Also why they tend to have shorter lifespans than other varieties. Just something I've read about on betta forums, for example post by Diana Walstad



That doesnt seem like the proper food. Check if it has at least 50% protein, and the main ingredient is meat rather than plant filler

The genetic manipulation that results in crowntails is not the same as disease that results in fin rot & even Walstad notes that in her post.

Tetra betta food is listed as 48% protein.

 

Theyre bred so that part of the webbing of their tail rots away early, that's how they achieve the crowntail look. Also why they tend to have shorter lifespans than other varieties. Just something I've read about on betta forums, for example post by Diana Walstad

Thank you for the link, it explains that it is not the disease fin rot but the Merah gene, a genetic manipulation that’s bred for.
I think going forward if you were to mention it again to elaborate that fin rot & this gene manipulation are not the same thing.

Sorry for the sidestracking Op, let’s get back to helping with the original issue.

 

I have reprogrammed his light to stay on only for 8 hours since you told me.

I do not have catappa leaves, but I do use alder cones so that his water is brown ish.

His temperature right now is 80.5F.

I have always fed him 2 times a day, each time 2 pallets, so that means 4 pallets a day. Sometimes I feed him 3 because he got constipated a few months ago when I was always feeding him 4. He seems okay with the amount of food, he isn't that big of a betta.

The only way I could get salt is through Amazon, the delivery is more expensive than the salt itself and it takes one month to deliver. If you think that I should get it and that in a month it'll still help him, I'll order it in no time.

Here is a picture of him and his aquarium right now (if you want to see the color of the water or anything else):
View attachment 872642
He's okay by the way, he just likes to get tangled up in his plant.

I will also get him a floating plant in two weeks from another city (I couldn't find any here).

Looks like the salt is a no go then & given his fin conditions, not necessary either since you're on top of water changes. I'd try to increase the water temp slowly to 82F if the heater is adjustable tho. The alder is just fine, as is your feeding for a small guy. If frozen shrimp or worms are available, they'd be an excellent addition to his diet!

I know the LFS (local fish stores) are poorly stocked, but might there be a couple tall polyester or silicone plants with leaves broad enough so he can rest near the surface? That would work well for rests. Or maybe the suction cup, gel superglue & poly leaf idea? Might save you a long car trip!

Again, you're doing well by your animal & he appears to be healing.

 

Looks like the salt is a no go then & given his fin conditions, not necessary either since you're on top of water changes. I'd try to increase the water temp slowly to 82F if the heater is adjustable tho. The alder is just fine, as is your feeding for a small guy. If frozen shrimp or worms are available, they'd be an excellent addition to his diet!

I know the LFS (local fish stores) are poorly stocked, but might there be a couple tall polyester or silicone plants with leaves broad enough so he can rest near the surface? That would work well for rests. Or maybe the suction cup, gel superglue & poly leaf idea? Might save you a long car trip!

Again, you're doing well by your animal & he appears to be healing.

Thank you! Yes, I will slowly increase the temperature.

Also there is no need to look into other places for him to rest on, I have someone who is bringing me a betta leaf for him in 3 days. And I will get the floating plants anyway for some extra shade in there.

I tried feeding him dried red worms and he got constipated when he managed to eat one. He doesn't like them at all, he spits them. I also tried soaking them a little to make them softer, but he didn't like that either.

I will also look for some pellets with more protein.

 

Thank you! Yes, I will slowly increase the temperature.

Also there is no need to look into other places for him to rest on, I have someone who is bringing me a betta leaf for him in 3 days. And I will get the floating plants anyway for some extra shade in there.

I tried feeding him dried red worms and he got constipated when he managed to eat one. He doesn't like them at all, he spits them. I also tried soaking them a little to make them softer, but he didn't like that either.

I will also look for some pellets with more protein.

Excellent solutions for rests & betta enjoyment!

The dried worms & shrimp in my experience pretty inevitably cause constipation so I'm not surprised. I avoid them for fish. Frozen or live brine shrimp or daphnia are nutritious as well as preventatives for constipation. I don't know your ability to get things like vinegar eels, but they're easy to keep live food too.

Nor do I know if you're up to going this far, but I also make a point of encouraging mosquito larvae in a large vase in which I keep bamboo & snails. The betta love the mosquito larvae I pluck out as snacks for them. I've also been known to encourage fruit flies when confined to a bag with over ripe fruit. The fish love them too.

Just a thought for feeding when resources are limited!

 

Excellent solutions for rests & betta enjoyment!

The dried worms & shrimp in my experience pretty inevitably cause constipation so I'm not surprised. I avoid them for fish. Frozen or live brine shrimp or daphnia are nutritious as well as preventatives for constipation. I don't know your ability to get things like vinegar eels, but they're easy to keep live food too.

Nor do I know if you're up to going this far, but I also make a point of encouraging mosquito larvae in a large vase in which I keep bamboo & snails. The betta love the mosquito larvae I pluck out as snacks for them. I've also been known to encourage fruit flies when confined to a bag with over ripe fruit. The fish love them too.

Just a thought for feeding when resources are limited!

I found some pellets that are also available here, the Hikari Bio-Gold, and I could get those for him.

I will also look for some frozen brine shrips, I swear I saw some kind of frozen food for fish in our pet shops, but I don't remember which kind.

The other alternatives sounded 'yucky' xD but if I find no other options, I might as well. Thank you for all the help and suggestions and I will be back with updates!

 

Thank you for the link, it explains that it is not the disease fin rot but the Merah gene, a genetic manipulation that’s bred for.
I think going forward if you were to mention it again to elaborate that fin rot & this gene manipulation are not the same thing.

Sorry for the sidestracking Op, let’s get back to helping with the original issue.

From my understanding, this goes hand-in-hand with fin rot which does not have to lead to a chronic disease. As the cells are triggered by apoptosis (suicide), the fin rot bacteria that naturally grows on fish slimecoat consumes it. This does not have to escalate onto healthier tissue, but it's more likely to happen in crowntails. At least that's the gist I got from those breeders.

This was from readings years ago, I remember vaguely some hobbyists were able to maintain the webbing in a crowntail betta kept in extremely pristine water conditions.

I

 

Day 5 update:
I don't see him getting better. I may have seen some regrowths in some parts, but this one fin seems to be getting worse even with all the water changes.

Sunday:



Tuesday:



Today:



I just don't know what to do anymore. He is still as energic as ever, but I am starting to lose hope.

What treatments I have available on me:
Sera Baktopur (got rid of his red points at the end of some of his fins)
KanaPlex (didn't really see anything)
Methylene Blue (don't know if I can use this one).

Is it all in my mind or does it really looks worse? If the water changes worked, shouldn't the rot on that fin have stopped by now?
I found kosher salt! I just got it. I'll start the treatment today for 3 days maybe. 1 teaspoon/gallon, then 3/4 traspoon and finally 1/2 treaspoon, with 50% water change every day. I'll get the plants out first. I hope the fin rot will stop after these 3 days as you told me not to use kosher salt longer that this.

 

Day 5 update:
I don't see him getting better. I may have seen some regrowths in some parts, but this one fin seems to be getting worse even with all the water changes.

Sunday:
View attachment 872756

Tuesday:
View attachment 872757

Today:
View attachment 872758

I just don't know what to do anymore. He is still as energic as ever, but I am starting to lose hope.

What treatments I have available on me:
Sera Baktopur (got rid of his red points at the end of some of his fins)
KanaPlex (didn't really see anything)
Methylene Blue (don't know if I can use this one).

Is it all in my mind or does it really looks worse? If the water changes worked, shouldn't the rot on that fin have stopped by now?
I found kosher salt! I just got it. I'll start the treatment today for 3 days maybe. 1 teaspoon/gallon, then 3/4 traspoon and finally 1/2 treaspoon, with 50% water change every day. I'll get the plants out first. I hope the fin rot will stop after these 3 days as you told me not to use kosher salt longer that this.

I'm sorry it's so difficult! But yes, I'd like to have seen no progression at this point.

I'm going to ask Rose of Sharon to weigh in on the kosher salt as she's used that substitute, over methylene blue. I would for sure use the salt first!

 

If you are worried about putting the salt directly into the tank, you can do a fish bath. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into one gallon of heated, treated tank water. Scoop the betta out of the tank with a clean container or a cup, not a net. The net can cause more damage to his fins. If he reacts badly once you put him in the bath (frantic swimming, breathing very hard), take him out right away. If he settles down, then leave him for 15 minutes. You can do a bath every day if he doesn't show signs of stress. After doing daily baths for a week, give it a few days afterward to see if there are signs of fin regrowth. If you don't see that he is getting better, then you can move to methylene blue baths.

For the methylene blue, if you want to attempt a bath (do not add it to the tank), you can use a clean bucket, add one mL of methylene blue to a gallon of treated, heated tank water. Be careful, as the methylene blue will stain everything it touches...clothes, hands, countertops...just everything. Put the bucket in a warm place to keep the bath warm. Make sure the temp of the bath matches the temp of the water in the tank. Put him into the bath, and if he doesn't settle down after a while and seems stressed, take him out. If he settles down, leave him in for 30 minutes.

I would not use the kanaplex unless the fins really start to melt at a very fast rate. It's always best to avoid using antibiotics unless you absolutely have to use them when the fish's life is at stake.

Hope this helps!

 

If you are worried about putting the salt directly into the tank, you can do a fish bath. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt into one gallon of heated, treated tank water. Scoop the betta out of the tank with a clean container or a cup, not a net. The net can cause more damage to his fins. If he reacts badly once you put him in the bath (frantic swimming, breathing very hard), take him out right away. If he settles down, then leave him for 15 minutes. You can do a bath every day if he doesn't show signs of stress. After doing daily baths for a week, give it a few days afterward to see if there are signs of fin regrowth. If you don't see that he is getting better, then you can move to methylene blue baths.

For the methylene blue, if you want to attempt a bath (do not add it to the tank), you can use a clean bucket, add one mL of methylene blue to a gallon of treated, heated tank water. Be careful, as the methylene blue will stain everything it touches...clothes, hands, countertops...just everything. Put the bucket in a warm place to keep the bath warm. Make sure the temp of the bath matches the temp of the water in the tank. Put him into the bath, and if he doesn't settle down after a while and seems stressed, take him out. If he settles down, leave him in for 30 minutes.

I would not use the kanaplex unless the fins really start to melt at a very fast rate. It's always best to avoid using antibiotics unless you absolutely have to use them when the fish's life is at stake.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for the advice!

I put the dissolved salt directly in his tank and he's exactly the same, which is a good sign. He doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

Did my 3 day plan sound good? Should I change anything about it or maybe extend it? And if I should extended, how should I change the dosages?

Thank you again for all your help, I hope the kosher salt will do the trick.

 

You might want to use the salt for at least a week, if he is taking to it well, and don't use it for more than 10 days in a row. When you do water changes, make sure that you only add the amount of salt back that was removed with the change. The only way to remove the salt is through water changes, and you wouldn't want to add too much back.

Keep us updated!

 

Update after 2 days of salt:

This morning he wasn't that energic, he barely interracted with me. I was sure it was because of the salt.

I went out and bought him a new siphon, a more precise one, so I can clean his aquarium even better than before.

When I got home, he had lots of red spots at the end of his fins, they were really affected. I think the salt lowered his immune system and the bacteria took advantage of that.

While I was out buying that siphon, I finally found a person at the pet shop who knew stuff about betta fish. I explained to him the whole situation and he told me to try Baktopur again (since that's basically the only treatment here), but this time with 30 minutes concentrated baths. He also recommended me Easy Life Voogle.

So after I got home and saw the state he was in, I changed 60% of his water to get rid of most of that salt (I will do another smaller change tomorrow). I added a dosage of Easy Life Voogle (there were 3 types of dosages: healthy, sick and very sick fish), choosing something between the 2nd and 3rd dosage since he was really letargic.

I prepared a bath for him and kept him there for 30 minutes and I could see that he was better already.
After I put him back in his tank he was a little shook. I gave him a few hours to relax and get a little bit of strength and now he is back to his usual self. I got really scared today. I will keep doing daily baths with Baktopur hoping to get rid of those infected areas. I will also keep doing the treatment with Easy Life Voogle since I think it was a big help for his immune system.

Unfortunately the improvised method with the salt didn't work and I will stick with what I can get here. That guy at the pet shop said that this method helped his fish get rid of the infection.

I will keep updating you.

 

Update after 2 days of salt:

This morning he wasn't that energic, he barely interracted with me. I was sure it was because of the salt.

I went out and bought him a new siphon, a more precise one, so I can clean his aquarium even better than before.

When I got home, he had lots of red spots at the end of his fins, they were really affected. I think the salt lowered his immune system and the bacteria took advantage of that.

While I was out buying that siphon, I finally found a person at the pet shop who knew stuff about betta fish. I explained to him the whole situation and he told me to try Baktopur again (since that's basically the only treatment here), but this time with 30 minutes concentrated baths. He also recommended me Easy Life Voogle.

So after I got home and saw the state he was in, I changed 60% of his water to get rid of most of that salt (I will do another smaller change tomorrow). I added a dosage of Easy Life Voogle (there were 3 types of dosages: healthy, sick and very sick fish), choosing something between the 2nd and 3rd dosage since he was really letargic.

I prepared a bath for him and kept him there for 30 minutes and I could see that he was better already.
After I put him back in his tank he was a little shook. I gave him a few hours to relax and get a little bit of strength and now he is back to his usual self. I got really scared today. I will keep doing daily baths with Baktopur hoping to get rid of those infected areas. I will also keep doing the treatment with Easy Life Voogle since I think it was a big help for his immune system.

Unfortunately the improvised method with the salt didn't work and I will stick with what I can get here. That guy at the pet shop said that this method helped his fish get rid of the infection.

I will keep updating you.

You've taught me something new. I hadn't heard of Baktopur or Voogle before so I looked them up. The Baktopur seems to be a combination of acriflavine & methylene blue - both antibacterials which should help.

Can't find an ingedients list for Voogle but it's advertised as 'all natural plant extracts' & in some places as an oil - perhaps like the betta, pima & mela -fix meds. I avoid the -fix meds in part because there's suspicion that the oil they contain can damage the labryinth organ in betta. Without an ingredients list tho, I can't tell if Voogle contains any oils or simply something like aloe which can be soothing!

I'm so sorry he declined rather than improved. If it helps at all, I've had the odd betta react poorly to even aquarium salt. It may not have been the improvising that irritated him, but salt period.

It sounds like you're confident of your path in treating him now & I *really* hope you see continued improvement & no more scares. Glad the fish store had recommendations for you that seem to be helping.

 

You've taught me something new. I hadn't heard of Baktopur or Voogle before so I looked them up. The Baktopur seems to be a combination of acriflavine & methylene blue - both antibacterials which should help.

Can't find an ingedients list for Voogle but it's advertised as 'all natural plant extracts' & in some places as an oil - perhaps like the betta, pima & mela -fix meds. I avoid the -fix meds in part because there's suspicion that the oil they contain can damage the labryinth organ in betta. Without an ingredients list tho, I can't tell if Voogle contains any oils or simply something like aloe which can be soothing!

I'm so sorry he declined rather than improved. If it helps at all, I've had the odd betta react poorly to even aquarium salt. It may not have been the improvising that irritated him, but salt period.

It sounds like you're confident of your path in treating him now & I *really* hope you see continued improvement & no more scares. Glad the fish store had recommendations for you that seem to be helping.

I've looked it up online as well and here is what I could find:

Easy-Life Voogle contains "Glucomannans, Beta Carotene, Ascorbic Acid, Thiamine, Choline, Folic Acid and other Vitamins and Natural and Synthetic Concentrates solved in Purified Water. "

Might be useful for other people in case they want to use it.

Also, Fishy is feeling much better today, I will keep giving him daily baths with Baktopur and following the treatment listed on Voogle. I will be back with more updates.

 

Update:

Unfortunately he isn't getting better, he got worse. He's still energic as usual, but his fins are really damaged. We've been gone for 4 days so I had someone feed him and add Voogle to his water everyday and now we are back with his daily water changes.

I also found Stressguard from Saechem and I will be using that with Voogle.

I will keep giving him Baktopur baths every 2 days so I don't stress him too much.

I added some methylene blue to his water and I will refresh the dose every 3-4 days, maybe every 2 days since I do daily water changes.

If I continue to see his fins deteriorating in the next week, I will try another round of Kenaplex since it's the only thing I have left.

I honestly don't know what else to do, I can't seem to stop his fin rot, it's been going for 2-3 months.

This is him now and his new stuff (betta leaf + floating plants):

If you have any more advice, maybe products/medication that can be found at pharmacies that have something in their composition that might help him fight this, ideas and opinions are always welcome.

 

Fishy update:

I think the fin rot finally stopped! This is how he looks now (he's been like this for 2 weeks now - since Day1 of treatment):

5 days ago (first day after the 10 days treatment):



Today:



That long part from his tail (1st picture) is very thin and is going to fall at some point (in 2nd picture you can see that it's bent). But the colors look much better even after 5 days. The edges are now whiter than before which is a good sign I think.


One month ago I could see the fin rot getting worse every day, but now I didn't see any change in the last 2 weeks.


I treated him with Sera Baktopur like this:
Day1: 1 ml of Baktopur for 20 liter aquarium
Day2: nothing
Day3: 1 ml of Baktopur for 20 liter aquarium
Day4: nothing
Day5: partial waterchange (50%) and carbon filter in order to remove medication


After one day after the waterchange, I removed the carbon filter and did the treatment above one more time until I concluded that fin rot stopped.


I am currenty doing daily or once-every-2-days water changes (15-20%) and besides alder cones, I also add Seachem StressGuard to his water so I can help him heal. I see no signs of regrowth, but right now I'm just happy that there is no more new damage. After all I finished the treatment 4-5 days ago so he might need some more time.


If the fin rot is not completely gone and I see signs of it again, I will do this treatment again.


I found no detailed treatment (only the dosage) for Sera Baktopur so I wrote this plan that I came up with in case anyone else needs it (especially my fellow romanians and our neighbours for whom this treatment might be the only option).


I would love to post this treatment somewhere so I can help others, where would you recommend I post it?

 

Fishy update:

First signs of regrowth!