My Betta's Tail... Advice please?!

So I originally posted a thread about what appeared to be fin rot on my bettas tail (it's kind of whitish on one of the tips) and now I've noticed it almost looks like there's a piece of his tail hanging off! It looks pretty damaged in one spot. Could this be because of the filter? The photos are not very good, sorry. Could anyone please help me? I have been doing 10% water changes daily to help clear it up.

 

I remember seeing the pics of the fin rot, can you post some updated pics with the white tips? First thought is that it is fungal related due to the white stuff. Do you have a strong filter? Is it possible he is tail biting?

 

So I originally posted a thread about what appeared to be fin rot on my bettas tail (it's kind of whitish on one of the tips) and now I've noticed it almost looks like there's a piece of his tail hanging off! It looks pretty damaged in one spot. Could this be because of the filter? The photos are not very good, sorry. Could anyone please help me? I have been doing 10% water changes daily to help clear it up.

Here are the pics

 

I remember seeing the pics of the fin rot, can you post some updated pics with the white tips? First thought is that it is fungal related due to the white stuff. Do you have a strong filter? Is it possible he is tail biting?

My filter flow is usually really calm but for some reason it's much stronger now

 

My filter flow is usually really calm but for some reason it's much stronger now

More pictures

 

I am not seeing the white stuff you are talking about. Looks like fin rot to me that is progressively getting a bit worse. I would up it to 20% water changes daily. It is a 5 gallon correct? You could stick a sponge like this Fluval Edge Pre Filter Sponge, 1 Count - chewy on the white plastic part of the filer (not sure what that's called lol). Or wrap it in women's tights/pantyhose. That will make sure his fins don't get stuck on them.

 

I am not seeing the white stuff you are talking about. Looks like fin rot to me that is progressively getting a bit worse. I would up it to 20% water changes daily. It is a 5 gallon correct? You could stick a sponge like this Fluval Edge Pre Filter Sponge, 1 Count - chewy on the white plastic part of the filer (not sure what that's called lol). Or wrap it in women's tights/pantyhose. That will make sure his fins don't get stuck on them.

I'll do just that. Thanks for your help!

 

I'll do just that. Thanks for your help!

HI Sien;

I was able to capture a picture of the white stuff on my bettas tail. Would this change treatment at all?

 

In some cases of fin rot, it has white tips or white patches on the tips of the fins. Which can make it hard to tell fin rot vs. fungus. I would continue to treat it as fin rot for now but add AQ salt baths 1x a day. This is my bath treatment:
I fill a container with a half gallon of water, de-chlorinate, and add 1 teaspoon of AQ salt, mix well. Make sure the water matches your tank temp. Scoop your fish out (I use an old betta cup) and put him in the bath, no need to acclimate. Leave him and supervise for 15 min (mild fin clamping is normal). If you notice severe signs of stress remove him immediately (this would be floating upside down, floating on side, severe instant color loss, etc). If this is the case you can try a 1/2-3/4 teaspoon of salt and leave him in the bath for 20 min. When putting him back in the tank, scoop him out and try to add the least amount of salt bath to your actual tank. Dump the water and do not re-use for future baths.
You can do the bath 2x a day if you want, but the fin rot does not look that bad yet IMO. If it is noticeably worse despite daily water changes and the salt baths, you can up the bath to 2x a day. If the white stuff is growing larger and you are leaning towards a fungal infection, then pick up meds for that and stop the baths. However, salt baths can help treat fungus and fin rot. When it comes to the first step of filling a container with a half gallon of water, I use fresh water straight from the tap (then add water conditioner of course). My PH and stuff matches the tap so I have never had an issue with this method. However, if you are nervous, you can do 50/50 fresh water and tank water. This is up to you. There are other methods that have a much higher salt ratio but I find this is the one I am most comfortable using on my bettas.

 

Okay, so now I can see that it's definitely a fungal infection. It looks like brown cotton wool on his tail.

I have a 20L tank that's been in storage for a while that I could use to QT my betta. What is the best way to go about cycling the filter? Would treating him with Furan 2 be okay?

EDIT: My 20L is nowhere to be found. I have setup a 30L/8.8Gal storage container with a filter and heater to use as a QT tank.

Thanks

 

Okay, so now I can see that it's definitely a fungal infection. It looks like brown cotton wool on his tail.

I have a 20L tank that's been in storage for a while that I could use to QT my betta. What is the best way to go about cycling the filter? Would treating him with Furan 2 be okay?

Thanks

It will be hard to cycle the filter on such fast notice. You can take some decorations from his 5 gallon and put it in the 20L. That can help. Checking- is it a 20 long or a 20 liter? The good bacteria is also in your gravel if you wanna scoop some of that out and put it in the back of the filter. Do small water changes daily to keep that water clean in the QT tank, that’ll help with ammonia and the healing. I don’t believe Furan 2 is meant for fungus infections. Let me see what other meds are a good choice.

 

Kanaplex is a stronger med by Seachem I have used. It works well but can damage the fish’s internal organs. You can also try API fungus cure, you can likely find that at a chain pet store.

 

It will be hard to cycle the filter on such fast notice. You can take some decorations from his 5 gallon and put it in the 20L. That can help. Checking- is it a 20 long or a 20 liter? The good bacteria is also in your gravel if you wanna scoop some of that out and put it in the back of the filter. Do small water changes daily to keep that water clean in the QT tank, that’ll help with ammonia and the healing. I don’t believe Furan 2 is meant for fungus infections. Let me see what other meds are a good choice.

Thank you. I'll grab some gravel and maybe take a few of his favourite silk plants. It's a 20 Liter, sorry about that. I'll head over to my LFS and see if I can find API fungus cure.

 

Thank you. I'll grab some gravel and maybe take a few of his favourite silk plants. It's a 20 Liter, sorry about that. I'll head over to my LFS and see if I can find API fungus cure.

Sounds good. Take a look at other fungus meds and see if they look better to you. Just make sure it is a fungus med and not a general cure med.

 

Sounds good. Take a look at other fungus meds and see if they look better to you. Just make sure it is a fungus med and not a general cure med.

HI Sien,

Thanks so much for all your help. I've only managed to get aquarium salt now and I was wondering if API AQ Salt would be okay for the salt bath method you've shared with me?

 

HI Sien,

Thanks so much for all your help. I've only managed to get aquarium salt now and I was wondering if API AQ Salt would be okay for the salt bath method you've shared with me?

HI there. Yes, that salt will work just fine. How are his fins looking? Still look like a fungal infection?

 

HI there. Yes, that salt will work just fine. How are his fins looking? Still look like a fungal infection?

Thank you. I honestly have no idea. It's so hard to get a proper photo. His top fin is almost completely gone, and the tips are ragged and the while fin is white. This is starting on his bottom fin too, despite 75% water changes daily

 

Thank you. I honestly have no idea. It's so hard to get a proper photo. His top fin is almost completely gone, and the tips are ragged and the while fin is white. This is starting on his bottom fin too, despite 75% water changes daily

Oh geez. I would get on those salt baths asap. Have you tested parameters recently?

 

I'm doing a salt bath right now. I'm so worried. Yes,
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
pH: 7.5

 

Well parameters look good. Try a few salt baths and if that does not work then I would move to meds. Try an antibiotic or a fungal med. If his fins are still white on the tips I would try fungal meds first. Are you able to make it to the pet store anytime soon or place an order with a fast shipping online retailer? Amazon prime?

 

Well parameters look good. Try a few salt baths and if that does not work then I would move to meds. Try an antibiotic or a fungal med. If his fins are still white on the tips I would try fungal meds first. Are you able to make it to the pet store anytime soon or place an order with a fast shipping online retailer? Amazon prime?

Thank you. I'll be able to go over to my lfs tomorrow afternoon (in about 20 hours)

Would apI fungus cure work for this?
I just did a salt bath and he seems fine

 

Thank you. I'll be able to go over to my lfs tomorrow afternoon (in about 20 hours)

Would apI fungus cure work for this?
I just did a salt bath and he seems fine

As in he's acting fine. Fins still white and all (which is what I would expect)

 

Yes you could do API fungus cure. Then if that doesn't work do an antibiotic. Can you send a pic of the tank, decorations, filter? It almost looks like the top fin was ripped off or something. Or just severe fin rot, but odd it only affected that fin so severely

 

I'll get some pictures now. It's really odd, I did already notice that his fin was a bit damaged when I got him first which was only maybe a week or two ago? He was kept in a filtered tank but the intake was really strong and I could tell it was pulling him. Could this have done it?

 

Yes you could do API fungus cure. Then if that doesn't work do an antibiotic. Can you send a pic of the tank, decorations, filter? It almost looks like the top fin was ripped off or something. Or just severe fin rot, but odd it only affected that fin so severely

I've noticed that his qt tank water has this white fluffy stuff floating around in it. Would I need to add salt to my aquarium to treat the water too? Also, my folks just bought me pimafix for him but I was wondering if this is safe to use??

 

I've noticed that his qt tank water has this white fluffy stuff floating around in it. Would I need to add salt to my aquarium to treat the water too? Also, my folks just bought me pimafix for him but I was wondering if this is safe to use??

I believe that has something in it that is harmful for bettas. It affects their labyrinth organ and makes it hard for them to breathe. Some people say it’s safe to use in half the dose, but why risk it. That’s very kind of your parents but I would have them return it and pick you up a bacterial or fungal med if they have time. Can you send a photo of the water? It is hard to advise you on the next step without seeing it. If you can also send a pic of your fish that’d be great.

 

Yes you could do API fungus cure. Then if that doesn't work do an antibiotic. Can you send a pic of the tank, decorations, filter? It almost looks like the top fin was ripped off or something. Or just severe fin rot, but odd it only affected that fin so severely

First one is qt tank but now it has no decor in it as the white stringy stuff seems to hang on it a lot
Others are usual tank
The next pic is the white stuff in his water. I've read that adding aq salt to the tank would help with this. What do you recommend?

 

I believe that has something in it that is harmful for bettas. It affects their labyrinth organ and makes it hard for them to breathe. Some people say it’s safe to use in half the dose, but why risk it. That’s very kind of your parents but I would have them return it and pick you up a bacterial or fungal med if they have time. Can you send a photo of the water? It is hard to advise you on the next step without seeing it. If you can also send a pic of your fish that’d be great.

I won't be using it then... thanks!