Giving my Betta the best care

My poor betta got sucked up a filter about 5 months ago when i forgot to put a filter cap back on after cleaning.
I had to stop the filter, and he dropped to the bottom curled up and breathing heavily and couldnt move.
I had to bring him to the top of the water with my hand so he could get some breaths of air again.
Afterwards he was almost incapacitated for about 3 days and would only come up to the top to eat and get air.

Flash forward to now and hes like the day i got him, but i suspect he might have a vision issue from the filter incident since hes hard at seeing his food now.
This is a picture of him, the red is where he has healed from his fins being torn.

Is there something i can do to make sure this betta gets all of his fin color back and lives the best life possible?
I feel so bad for what happened and what to make sure hes happy with his tank.

 

My poor betta got sucked up a filter about 5 months ago when i forgot to put a filter cap back on after cleaning.
I had to stop the filter, and he dropped to the bottom curled up and breathing heavily and couldnt move.
I had to bring him to the top of the water with my hand so he could get some breaths of air again.
Afterwards he was almost incapacitated for about 3 days and would only come up to the top to eat and get air.

Flash forward to now and hes like the day i got him, but i suspect he might have a vision issue from the filter incident since hes hard at seeing his food now.
This is a picture of him, the red is where he has healed from his fins being torn.

Is there something i can do to make sure this betta gets all of his fin color back and lives the best life possible?
I feel so bad for what happened and what to make sure hes happy with his tank.
View attachment 742972

He's suffering from fin rot (you can tell from his ragged fins)! You've got to cure this one quick. Read more about this disease on the net. DO NOT USE MELAFIX it doesn't help in curing fin rot. I recommend API Furan-2. It's dangerous for humans, so wash your hands well after you add it.

He is seriously ill. I don't mean to scare you, but you've got to treat him fast.
Hope he gets well.
Also, don't overdose the medicine.

 

He's suffering from fin rot (you can tell from his ragged fins)! You've got to cure this one quick. Read more about this disease on the net. DO NOT USE MELAFIX it doesn't help in curing fin rot. I recommend API Furan-2. It's dangerous for humans, so wash your hands well after you add it.

He is seriously ill. I don't mean to scare you, but you've got to treat him fast.
Hope he gets well.
Also, don't overdose the medicine.

His fins were torn from the filter. What indications make you think he has fin rot?
Ive seen fin rot before cause my guppy had it, hes looked like this for months and hes been fine.

He's suffering from fin rot (you can tell from his ragged fins)! You've got to cure this one quick. Read more about this disease on the net. DO NOT USE MELAFIX it doesn't help in curing fin rot. I recommend API Furan-2. It's dangerous for humans, so wash your hands well after you add it.

He is seriously ill. I don't mean to scare you, but you've got to treat him fast.
Hope he gets well.
Also, don't overdose the medicine.

I am concerned about the black spots at the end of his fins. Is that why you were worried?

 

The black spots on the ends of his fins could be indicative of fin rot, but if it is it looks like a mild case. The best thing you can do to help him heal his fins/colour up is to do frequent water changes to keep the water as clean as possible, and add some IALs for their beneficial tannins. Considering what he went though he looks to be in fairly good shape, so there is not need to worry.

 

The black spots on the ends of his fins could be indicative of fin rot, but if it is it looks like a mild case. The best thing you can do to help him heal his fins/colour up is to do frequent water changes to keep the water as clean as possible, and add some IALs for their beneficial tannins. Considering what he went though he looks to be in fairly good shape, so there is not need to worry.

I have a tannin log in my big tank. Throwing that in for him now

 

I have a tannin log in my big tank. Throwing that in for him now

What's a tannin log? I've never heard of that before. Is it just a piece of driftwood?

 

What's a tannin log? I've never heard of that before.

I think the more proper name is Mopani wood?
Found it at my local store and boiled it a few times.

 

Hello there! I am so sorry about your fish.
It seems as if he might have a case of fin rot....there are different ways you could combat this, which I suggest researching about. There are many different brands of medication that are easily accessible at most pet or fish stores. Just be sure that the water permeameters are in the right place, and the temperature is a healthy 25-27 degrees Celsius. Maybe even a bit higher while he is healing. And about his color, you could defiantly go for some color enhancing fish flakes, if you are worried about that. But as of right now, it does not look like he is dull or anything, the only coloration problem it looks like is the black areas at the end of the fin, which could be an indication of fin rot. If he had the run in with the filter 5 months ago....this is most likely fin rot and you need to treat him fast. It could be possible that while he was healing from the filter he was vulnerable to fin rot because of the already damaged fins, and that's how he picked it up. If I were you I would act fast, as this seems like a pretty severe case. Remember that while you are treating him, keep up with tank maintenance and make sure that water parameters are where they should be. What is your tank size, by the way?
I hope this helps. If you put in the work and do the research, your betta will recover soon.

-Willowfish

 

He's suffering from fin rot (you can tell from his ragged fins)! You've got to cure this one quick. Read more about this disease on the net. DO NOT USE MELAFIX it doesn't help in curing fin rot. I recommend API Furan-2. It's dangerous for humans, so wash your hands well after you add it.

He is seriously ill. I don't mean to scare you, but you've got to treat him fast.
Hope he gets well.
Also, don't overdose the medicine.

i disagree, this it not fin rot

 

i disagree, this it not fin rot

In my opinion, there is always a possibility that he is still recovering from the filter, but after five months I am pretty sure he would have started to heal. If I were you I would begin treatment, I do not think that It would harm the betta if you treat him with medicine and it turns out not to be fin rot. Even if it is not a disease, medication for fin rot is made to repair fin damage. Either way, a fin treatment would benefit your fish, and it seems to me that he could definitely do with some more fin growth. If it is believed that the fin damage will resolve itself soon, It would do no harm do speed up that process nevertheless.
I hope this helped!
-Willowfish

 

His fins were torn from the filter. What indications make you think he has fin rot?
Ive seen fin rot before cause my guppy had it, hes looked like this for months and hes been fine.


I am concerned about the black spots at the end of his fins. Is that why you were worried?

This is why I concluded that he has fin rot:
1) Ragged tail
2) Whitish endings on his tail
3) The black spots.

 

I think the more proper name is Mopani wood?
Found it at my local store and boiled it a few times.

Tannins are yellowish tint that comes off of any aquarium wood, not specific to mopani, but it has a multitude of uses one of which I believe is supposed to help heal betta fins like this little guy. You can also get them from Indian almond leaves which is a popular choice for betta keepers!

 

He has been treated with Bettafix and is starting to swim more and eat better.
He is currently being treated with Bettafix daily until its gone and getting daily water changes plus has tannins in the water. I will be going to the fish store today or tomorrow and getting fin rot treatment just to be safe.

 

Woah woah woah woah woah, bettafix can damage a bettas labyrinth organ, just like Pima and melafix. I had my own fair run with bettafix, not saying it will, but it can, just a fair warning,

 

Tannins are yellowish tint that comes off of any aquarium wood, not specific to mopani, but it has a multitude of uses one of which I believe is supposed to help heal betta fins like this little guy. You can also get them from Indian almond leaves which is a popular choice for betta keepers!

Mopani is known for the excessive amounts of tannins it gives off though, I had a small fist sized chunk I soaked for a few months, and for two years now its made that tank a continuous deep tea stained color. So I totally get why OP called it a tannin log.

 

Wow, this thread is bouncing all over the place! I don't mean to add any more to the confusion...

Yes, the fins are torn. However, if you look closely, you can see the webbing in between is growing back (it always grows back clear, so it's hard to see). I would love to see another picture of your fish because right now the black parts look like shadows. The pattern is not exactly consistent with fin rot, though I can't say it definitely isn't fin rot.

How come no one has mentioned clean water yet? OP, do you have an API freshwater test kit? Do you know your parameters? Clean water always, always, always comes before medication. You will only be treating the symptoms and not the problem if you medicate without first assuring your betta is in clean water. I understand you are doing daily water changes, but that doesn't mean your tank is cycled, or that the percentage of water you're changing is sufficient. What is the tank size?

Apoorvthegreat, Furan-2 is an antibiotic that should not be used or recommended willy-nilly. Please reference the link in my signature to read more about antibiotics. This fish really isn't in that bad of shape. He is not seriously ill. His condition, in my opinion, absolutely does not warrant the use of antibiotics without first checking water quality.

I agree, bettafix is not something I ever recommend for bettas (ironically). It is likely the water changes that are perking him up. I would not advise you pick up a medication for fin rot without first knowing what kind of medication it is or what your water parameters are.

 

Wow, this thread is bouncing all over the place! I don't mean to add any more to the confusion...

Yes, the fins are torn. However, if you look closely, you can see the webbing in between is growing back (it always grows back clear, so it's hard to see). I would love to see another picture of your fish because right now the black parts look like shadows. The pattern is not exactly consistent with fin rot, though I can't say it definitely isn't fin rot.

How come no one has mentioned clean water yet? OP, do you have an API freshwater test kit? Do you know your parameters? Clean water always, always, always comes before medication. You will only be treating the symptoms and not the problem if you medicate without first assuring your betta is in clean water. I understand you are doing daily water changes, but that doesn't mean your tank is cycled, or that the percentage of water you're changing is sufficient. What is the tank size?

Apoorvthegreat, Furan-2 is an antibiotic that should not be used loosely. This fish really isn't in that bad of shape. He is not seriously ill. His condition, in my opinion, absolutely does not warrant the use of antibiotics without first checking water quality.

I agree, bettafix is not something I ever recommend for bettas (ironically). It is likely the water changes that are perking him up. I would not advise you pick up a medication for fin rot without first knowing what kind of medication it is or what your water parameters are.

I completely agree and second all of this information! If you want to do something beyond water care for treatement, I would recommend salt baths before medication.

 

So my parameters are fine, i will be testing them tomorrow and posting results. I just got a nerve block today and have to take it easy. Tomorrow is another tank cleaning day.

Anyways i use a Formula to clean my tanks depending on what the nitrates read. The rest of the parameters are usually balanced out, my water is allways hard. But i am concerned about balancing my PH level for the fish.

The formula i use is (1- (d/c)) x Volume of tank.
D = Nitrate Desired
C = Nitrate Current

This will give you the gallons of water you need to change.
Sometimes i do my changes over 2 days if the reading is high and requires large water changes.

I usually try to keep my tanks around 5-10ppm on nitrates.
What medicine would you recommend for treating fins like that?

Just threw in some aquarium salt..

 

Bump for more opinions on the state of the fins. His fins are growing back great with the Bettafix and new water change mix. Its been 1 day since the last water change. Here is a new picture:



Should i still look into getting some fin rot medication?

Im concerned about the white spot on his head too, its not ich or anything and it doesnt come off, i think that may be a tumor or color loss from scale damage in the filter.

All in all hes pulling together great. Hes flaring at me again!!

 

I wouldn’t use any meds for fin rot. Also, I don’t think the bettafix helped much. It was probably either doing nothing or slowing the process. So far he looks ok and I would continue to do water changes for a while.

 

So my parameters are fine, i will be testing them tomorrow and posting results. I just got a nerve block today and have to take it easy. Tomorrow is another tank cleaning day.

Anyways i use a Formula to clean my tanks depending on what the nitrates read. The rest of the parameters are usually balanced out, my water is allways hard. But i am concerned about balancing my PH level for the fish.

The formula i use is (1- (d/c)) x Volume of tank.
D = Nitrate Desired
C = Nitrate Current

This will give you the gallons of water you need to change.
Sometimes i do my changes over 2 days if the reading is high and requires large water changes.

I usually try to keep my tanks around 5-10ppm on nitrates.
What medicine would you recommend for treating fins like that?

Just threw in some aquarium salt..

Why are you concerned about balancing your pH if your water is very hard? Is it low in kH? Have there been major fluctuations in pH?

Medicine is not recommended for minor situations like this because it puts immense stress on the fish. Did you dissolve the salt first? How much did you put into the tank?

 

Why are you concerned about balancing your pH if your water is very hard? Is it low in kH? Have there been major fluctuations in pH?

Medicine is not recommended for minor situations like this because it puts immense stress on the fish. Did you dissolve the salt first? How much did you put into the tank?

Different variants in ph. i use API test strips.
I used a pinch of salt and tossed it in the bottom, within 5 minutes it was dissolved in the whole tank.
The fish tend to leave it alone cause they know its not food.

 

Different variants in ph. i use API test strips.
I used a pinch of salt and tossed it in the bottom, within 5 minutes it was dissolved in the whole tank.
The fish tend to leave it alone cause they know its not food.

The strips are known to be HIGHLY inaccurate. I've used them myself before purchasing a master test kit. If you have very hard water like you say that means you have a lot of dissolved minerals in your water and therefore your kH is probably on the high end too, so you have a pH buffer. I would recommend getting liquid test kits for more accurate readings.

Fish eating the salt was never a concern, the salt remaining in your tank is, since it cannot evaporate. I would recommend not using salt since there are very clear signs of fin regrowth on him. Salt is mainly used to fight infections which he doesn't seem to show any signs of. It's also really easy to overdose if not used properly..
Frequent WCs are the best thing you can do to help him heal and keep him healthy. I would suggest increasing your WCs to 50% weekly.

 

The biggest problem with strips is that they don't test for ammonia, which in my opinion, is the most important parameter to test! The liquid API test kit is ideal.

I only ever use salt in a bath, not directly in the tank. Aquatic plants tend to react negatively to aquarium salt too. Also, I hope you used AQUARIUM salt and not table salt, as table salt is not suitable for fish.

I think we have asked a couple times but I never saw the answer, what size is this tank? It is likely that the little sprinkle of aquarium salt didn't even come close to the dosage needed to help with fin rot anyway.

Reiterating again that medications are not needed right now, especially when his fin regrowth looks absolutely fantastic. Keep up the water changes. Clean water is your best medicine.

 

Picking up a liquid test kit on amazon as that seems to be the cheapest place.
I will be doing another water change tomorrow. I just moved my 29 gallon tank and 10 gallon tank upstairs to my new room. If anyone is interested in my tank information and what is inside them, please refer to my Aquarium Details under my name. And of course it was aquarium salt. I have about 1 gallon container full of it

 

Alright update. I got rid of my 10 gallon because it had a sick guppy so i moved my betta to the 30 gallon.
Picture update on fin regrowth with water changes:



I am ordering hikaru betta biogold today along with my liquid test kit. I feel like his color is coming back, but could be better with quality food.

Just ordered these:



Edit: Forgot to add that i added fluval mineral stones into my filter also. My water clarity is awesome

 

Test results
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0-5ppm
Ph: 7.8

This is after a week of not changing the water. Tomorrow is change day.