How Can I Help My Betta Regenerate His Fins?

Hello all!

Back in November, I purchased a betta from my local Petco. I felt sorry for him as he'd been there for a while and had a small chunk out of his caudal fin that I thought I could fix. I have him in a heated, cycled 5 gallon aquarium, but his fins had not improved. In fact, over the months, they worsened. They became tattered and the membrane withdrew inward, but the rays remain in tact.

I assumed it was fin rot, and when it got to a worrisome extent, I tried to treat it with Kanaplex to no avail. Assuming it was perhaps a gram-positive bacteria causing the infection instead, I tried API's Fin and Body Cure. Once again, nothing.

I've had him off medication for some time now and have decided to try some more natural remedies. I currently have him on weekly water changes of 50% with Stress Coat+ as my water conditioner (double dosing), I have two Indian almond leaves floating around in there, and I'm also soaking his food twice daily in Vitachem and adding five drops to the tank weekly.

I'm going to tentatively say that I think I saw some improvement in his fins today, but I'm not sure. I worry that I might just been looking for progress? I'll attach a picture of the spots I believe are getting better.

I'd just like to know if, on top of everything else I am doing, can I do anything to go above and beyond for my little guy? Aside from his fins, he's been relatively fine. He just hangs out on his silk plant and waits for someone to come by and give him attention.

He's plenty active when he wants to be and has his daily rounds of circling the tank and flaring at every wall before hanging out on his plant, so I don't think he's feeling too bad, but I always associated tattered betta fins with poor husbandry (after being in the hobby for a while, I know this is not always the case), so it doesn't sit very well with me. In short, if there's more that I can do for him, I want to know what that is so I can get my little guy back to his original glory and even exceed that.

 

Daily water changes can often go a long way to helping fin rot and helping fins regrow. It may take a few weeks before you see improvement, but daily changes are easy in small tanks

 

Daily water changes can often go a long way to helping fin rot and helping fins regrow. It may take a few weeks before you see improvement, but daily changes are easy in small tanks

Will do! What percentage would be good, you think? I don't wanna stress him too much if I can help it.

Also, should I try boiling one of my almond leaves and adding the tannins directly to the water (when they cool off, of course) after water changes so he'd still get the effect from them? Because I'd probably be changing out all those good tannins.

 

Water changes shouldn't be that stressful. I would be doing 40-50% daily changes.

The microbiota will still be on the leaves, and the tannins will still be released daily. The tannins aren't a miracle cure, and I would say daily water changes are more important than tannin-stained water for a sick betta. You can add back tannin-stained water if you want, but I don't think it's necessary. He can be in tannin stained water again when his fins are better.

 

Water changes shouldn't be that stressful. I would be doing 40-50% daily changes.

The microbiota will still be on the leaves, and the tannins will still be released daily. The tannins aren't a miracle cure, and I would say daily water changes are more important than tannin-stained water for a sick betta. You can add back tannin-stained water if you want, but I don't think it's necessary. He can be in tannin stained water again when his fins are better.

Alrighty, I'll focus more of my attention to the water changes then. Thank you!