Medication For Finrot On Betta

We resuced a betta about a month ago. He was lively, energetic, and had beautiful fins. I put him in a 5.5g and seeded the filter with media from my 29 gallon and added prime and stability daily.

He ended up getting finrot 2 weeks later. I started doing 30% water changes every 1-2 days. The black on his fins slowed down drastically but I believe there's still a little black left. I've also noticed small black speckles on his fins since day 1 of finrot. I don't believe that's his coloring, but I could be wrong.
Water parameters were 0, 0, 0 (betta wasn't a big bioload so it took time to build up nitrates) for weeks before and during his finrot. Last night I tested 0, 0, 0><5. He's still as active as ever and eats like a pig. He swims around the front of the tank like crazy.

Because my water parameters were never actually bad, I was unsure if I should continue with the water changes or if I should go the medication route. And if so what meds? (No betafix or melafix suggestions please).

Before:







First week of finrot:





I'll take updated photos when I'm home of his current progress.

I did notice that under his gills there's that little patch of white or desaturated color? I'm unsure if that's coloring since I believe it was there since we got him.

 

Hello,
You should keep the water should be in good condition if finrot is present.
Aquarium salt can work to treat finrot, but other members have had success with Melaflix. You mentioned above to not mention Bettafix or Melaflix, do you not want to use these products or are you seeking other options?

 

Hello,
You should keep the water should be in good condition if finrot is present.
Aquarium salt can work to treat finrot, but other members have had success with Melaflix. You mentioned above to not mention Bettafix or Melaflix, do you not want to use these products or are you seeking other options?

I know melafix and betafix can harm bettas so I don't want to take that chance.

I haven't used salt in forever but I do have some. Would a salt bath work or put it in the tank? The water has never had any spikes of ammonia or nitrite since I seeded the filter.

 

I've read good things about Kanaplex. Just bought some myself for a fish with fin rot that doesn't seem to be healing with just daily WCs.

 

I've read good things about Kanaplex. Just bought some myself for a fish with fin rot that doesn't seem to be healing with just daily WCs.

I don't have kanaplex but I do have furan-2 which says it treats finrot. I wonder if anyone has had success with that on a betta?
Let me know how your treatment with kanaplex turns out!

 

Here's some updated photos from this morning

 

I don't have kanaplex but I do have furan-2 which says it treats finrot. I wonder if anyone has had success with that on a betta?
Let me know how your treatment with kanaplex turns out!

I am getting the Kanaplex tomorrow in the mail. I can't wait to get it to start healing my guy. He is my favorite betta and it tore me into pieces when I saw his tail

 

Would the water changes be stressing him out? Should I only do changes every twice a week rather than 3 or 4 times a week? If so what about his finrot? I did notice in the photos that he has had that stressmark the day of the finrot.

Any suggestions?

HannahH junebug
AllieSten

 

We resuced a betta about a month ago. He was lively, energetic, and had beautiful fins. I put him in a 5.5g and seeded the filter with media from my 29 gallon and added prime and stability daily.

He ended up getting finrot 2 weeks later. I started doing 30% water changes every 1-2 days. The black on his fins slowed down drastically but I believe there's still a little black left. I've also noticed small black speckles on his fins since day 1 of finrot. I don't believe that's his coloring, but I could be wrong.
Water parameters were 0, 0, 0 (betta wasn't a big bioload so it took time to build up nitrates) for weeks before and during his finrot. Last night I tested 0, 0, 0><5. He's still as active as ever and eats like a pig. He swims around the front of the tank like crazy.

Because my water parameters were never actually bad, I was unsure if I should continue with the water changes or if I should go the medication route. And if so what meds? (No betafix or melafix suggestions please).

Before:
View attachment 382610
View attachment 382611
View attachment 382615

First week of finrot:
View attachment 382612
View attachment 382613

I'll take updated photos when I'm home of his current progress.

I did notice that under his gills there's that little patch of white or desaturated color? I'm unsure if that's coloring since I believe it was there since we got him.

Hopefully you have solved the white patches around gills. It’s hard to purchase new fish, not knowing his background. Best of luck and never give up.

 

Hopefully you have solved the white patches around gills. It’s hard to purchase new fish, not knowing his background. Best of luck and never give up.

Nope, they're still there. We did rescue him though so we didn't pay anything. I loved his coloring and had to save him. I'm pretty sad that this is happened to a fish I was trying to save

 

Would the water changes be stressing him out? Should I only do changes every twice a week rather than 3 or 4 times a week? If so what about his finrot? I did notice in the photos that he has had that stressmark the day of the finrot.

Any suggestions?

HannahH junebug
AllieSten

I don't think water changes are very stressful. BUT I also just use a pitcher to pour water back into the tank and I do it slowly so it doesn't disturb my fish. He doesn't get blown around from the current of the water being poured in. I wish it could just be an instant fix for the fin rot.

 

I don't think water changes are very stressful. BUT I also just use a pitcher to pour water back into the tank and I do it slowly so it doesn't disturb my fish. He doesn't get blown around from the current of the water being poured in. I wish it could just be an instant fix for the fin rot.

The finrot isn't a big worry of mine now since the black has basically disappeared or slowed down greatly. I'm patiently waiting for fin regrowth but I know it can take time. Now I'm mainly concerned about his stress lines and the white by his gills.

I use a small siphon and when pouring into the tank I do it slowly on the opposide side of where he is. If he comes to the water stream, I change sides. His current is not very strong since the HOB is made for small tanks like this. I wish I could pinpoint what could be stressing him.

 

HannahH junebug Flowingfins

I saw today that the black finrot came back. Any advice?

 

When my half-moon got fin rot I just did water changes every single day of like....50ish percent. I've tried salt a few times, sometimes it would make it worse sometimes it would help a lot. He used to get the bloody fin rot and only got the black kind once, it took FOREVER for the black one to go away. I'm not sure what advice to give on the rot besides that though, sorry.
As for the stress stripes, it might be that blue background. If he can see his reflection all the time it could be stressing him out because he thinks it's another betta. I can't have a background on any of the tanks my boy has been in because he constantly swims sparatically and flares at it.

 

When my half-moon got fin rot I just did water changes every single day of like....50ish percent. I've tried salt a few times, sometimes it would make it worse sometimes it would help a lot. He used to get the bloody fin rot and only got the black kind once, it took FOREVER for the black one to go away. I'm not sure what advice to give on the rot besides that though, sorry.
As for the stress stripes, it might be that blue background. If he can see his reflection all the time it could be stressing him out because he thinks it's another betta. I can't have a background on any of the tanks my boy has been in because he constantly swims sparatically and flares at it.

He actually has never flared. He also never spends time at the back.
Doing less water changes I think made his lines less prominent but I'll increase them again.

 

Have you medicated?

Seachem Paragaurd has been heavily recommended as it supposedly treats all kinds of bacteria

 

Have you medicated?

Seachem Paragaurd has been heavily recommended as it supposedly treats all kinds of bacteria

I have not yet since everyone said to stay with water changes. Do I do dips or treat the entire tank?

 

I think it's meant to treat the entire tank, usually medication is a last resort. Maybe keep up the daily or every other day WC for a month and go from there. Might take some time. BUT if it is a bacteria I don't know if WC will help which is why I treated mine just for the heck of it.

 

I think it's meant to treat the entire tank, usually medication is a last resort. Maybe keep up the daily or every other day WC for a month and go from there. Might take some time. BUT if it is a bacteria I don't know if WC will help which is why I treated mine just for the heck of it.

I'll look more into it. It seems all my tanks are having bacterial issues . I don't share any equipment.

I'll go back to the water changes every other day for a month. Hopefully it won't stress him out too much