Untreatable Finrot In Betta?

My betta fish has recently felt with extremely bad finrot, despitev the tank being fully cycled with live plants and at 80°F. I've been doing daily water changes, I did salt baths for a while, and then I medicated with Kanaplex for the full course before doing two hydrogen peroxide dips (3% on the tips of his fins.) My water quality is fine with less than 5 nitrates, I've been adding IAL and API stresscoat+, and I sucked almost all the algae and detritus up and killed at least 95% of my cyanobacteria and took all the dead bits out as well. He's been acting fine throughout all that, although he is a little stressed after the peroxide dips. He eats omega one betta buffet pellets with the occasional frozen treat. Still, his fins continue to waste away with seemingly no end. Is there anything else I can do? I've been considering Paraguard baths, or upping the percentage of hydrogen peroxide a little bit. I don't know what's wrong with my care right now, as I feel like I'm already doing everything I can. Could it be fungal and not bacterial? I have methylene blue at home as well if necessary. Additionally, is it possible that it's not finrot at all, but something else that's causing his fins to waste away? If so, what could it be? Please help, I love my fish so much but he's so stressed with all the treatments but still not getting any better.

I have posted many threads about this, but every possible solution I've received hasn't worked. I'll find them again if anyone wants me to, and link them.

 

I know I have seen you post at least a couple of times about this. Any improvement at all? And how often on those water changes?

 

Can you post a picture? If you’ve done all that, it’s likely not fin rot. I’m not sure if someone has suggested this already, but could his fins be getting sucked into the filter or are there sharp things in the tank? Bettas will also bite their own tails.

 

Try Em Erythromycin or Maracyn 1.
I'd try meth blue baths too. Also look up a product called Kordons fish protector which is good for healing wounds.

 

I did add an additional sponge to the intake to block some of the room, but occasionally he does like to sleep against the filter. There isn't anything sharp, but I thought he shouldn't bite his tail since it's no longer weighing him down and it looks a lot more like rot to me. Thanks for the medication suggestions!

Also, no he hasn't improved, he's still as active as before but I think recently he's been a little more stressed from me catching him all the time for a bath. Besides the Kanaplex treatment, I change the water every day at the same time. Should I invest in a sponge to cover the flow so it's easier for him swimming around, and get more plants to rest on?

 

I'm so sorry your baby hasn't gotten better after all this time!
It must be so tough doing all these things to help him and not have any improvement.
I'm sorry nothing is working, I wish I could help more but I'm not sure what you can do at this point.

 

If it's not fungal, are there any other illnesses that could present as what appears to be finrot? I'm trying a methylene blue bath today and looking into the other medications suggested. In case nothing works, should I continue daily water changes?

 

Water changes always good. I am old and blind maybe, but I don't really see rotting myself. Tail needs to grow back o course, which doesn't happen overnight. Took awhile on ine of my bettas to tell if it was still rotting or new growth

 

It's not clear at the edges though, it's white and fuzzy or bleeding, but could he be healing soon? I am planning on ordering API erythromycin tonight.

 

I have one like this, finrot is constant and has been for a few months (4-6) but it isn't as bad as yours. Try a hydrogen peroxide swab, it gave mine some relief for about two weeks. Get a net 2-3% hydrogen peroxide, and Q-tips. Take the qtip, dip it in peroxide, quickly grab your betta out of the water with a net, swab the affected areas, leave him out of the water for another 5 seconds, and return to the aquarium. Give him a few minutes then repeat on the other side. Didn't get rid of it for mine, but definitely helped

 

I just did that yesterday and two days before that, there wasn't any improvements. Should I try again today, or do methylene blue bath?

 

I just did that yesterday and two days before that, there wasn't any improvements. Should I try again today, or do methylene blue bath?

I'm so sorry for missing that, my bad. Try for a 3-4 day break minimum between treatments. Try Methylene blue next, in three days. There's differing opinions on taking breaks, some say it's unecessary, and if you're getting really concerned about the progression, you can go ahead with treatment. Personally, I only try a med once a week, sometimes two days in a row then a week break.
For the Methylene blue, don't put it in the tank, get two separate tubs, do the 10 second dip dose, then dip your fish in the second tub for a minute or so, just to rinse off the m blue, which should be filled with clean water, then back in the aquarium.

 

Okay, thank you! I believe the erythromycin has been ordered, do you think it'll work? I also only have one gallon tubs so I'm not sure how much to add exactly.

 

Okay, thank you! I believe the erythromycin has been ordered, do you think it'll work? I also only have one gallon tubs so I'm not sure how much to add exactly.

You'd need a gram scale for that, erytheomycin comes in a powder in packets, one packet treats 10 gallons of water. You could get a 5 gallon sterilite tub for $3-4, and it's easier to estimate 1/2 a packet than 1/10

 

Oops, I meant that I didn't know how much methylene blue in drops to put in. Can I add erythromycin to the main tank if there are live plants?

 

Oops, I meant that I didn't know how much methylene blue in drops to put in. Can I add erythromycin to the main tank if there are live plants?

Oh, methylene blue should have instructions on it that work, I know I did a dip in a 1/2 gallon container, so it can be done. That's something I'll have to look at tomorrow though, sorry. I don't know if erythromycin has an affect on plants, but it killed all my BB (beneficial bacteria) when I used it

 

Oh.... Thank you for the help though! Then I should also do baths with that?

 

Oops, I meant that I didn't know how much methylene blue in drops to put in. Can I add erythromycin to the main tank if there are live plants?

5 teaspoons per 3 gallons of water for a 10 second dip according to this site.

 

Oh.... Thank you for the help though! Then I should also do baths with that?

It's possible to do baths with Methylene blue as well, try the dip first then let him rest for a few days.

 

I just dip once, and then again after a few days? Also, should I do erythromycin baths at the same time or medicate with Paraguard in the main tank? It's been almost a week since I used Kanaplex, and although there are no signs of healing his fins aren't bleeding as badly today.

 

For erytheomycin, you'll want to move him for several days, I think the treatment is a week, so do that after two or so M Blue if they don't help. It's good to hear that the fins aren't bleeding

 

Ok, should I just add the amount of food I usually feed him into the main tank? Do I have to run a filter, or can I just add prime on any days that I'm not doing a water change? I'll do a M Blue bath tomorrow, as that is the third day without any sort of bath for him.

 

Are you doing the methylene bath or the dip?
If you're going to add fish food for the ammonia, soak it in some water for several days before hand, as some foods take a few days to break down before they start releasing ammonia. You'll only need this for the erytheomycin bath, since it takes a while

 

Oops, I meant a dip, but on the instructions there's only stuff for 3 gallons, and I haven't found something specifically for one gallon. I'm not sure about the erythromycin bath, but I am getting it just in case M Blue doesn't work or I need it in the future. Would I be able to use Maracyn 1 in the main tank? Additionally, I only free around two-three pellets a day, should I add more for ammonia if I end up moving him to a hospital tank?

 

Oops, I meant a dip, but on the instructions there's only stuff for 3 gallons, and I haven't found something specifically for one gallon. I'm not sure about the erythromycin bath, but I am getting it just in case M Blue doesn't work or I need it in the future. Would I be able to use Maracyn 1 in the main tank? Additionally, I only free around two-three pellets a day, should I add more for ammonia if I end up moving him to a hospital tank?

I would say a little more than 1 and a half teaspoon for 1 gallon of water. Maracyn 1 is the same med as erythromycin.

 

Ok thanks a lot! Then I do a dip tomorrow, and then two days after that again with M Blue? Just want to make sure

 

Ok thanks a lot! Then I do a dip tomorrow, and then two days after that again with M Blue? Just want to make sure

Yup

 

Thank you!

 

I just did a dip, now I have to see if it works or not...

By the way, if anyone else has a stain from M Blue, using hand sanitizer is pretty good for removing it, I just accidentally stained my kitchen table and I scrubbed it off with hand sanitizer. Try to do it quickly though!

Also, my dad suggested furan2, would that work, or is erythromycin better? Should I do Paraguard baths, or add it to the tank?

 

I would let him rest and destress after all he's been through. Do frequent water changes. That will help him the most. Have you tried stress coat? I would include that for his stress.

Then do a treatment and let him rest.

 

I've already been doing daily water changes, to no avail, unfortunately. I do add API stresscoat+, at double to dose (which they said would help heal rot,) and he still isn't showing regrowth. What else should I do? He is actually very active despite the M Blue bath, he got the zoomies a few seconds ago and flared, which he usually doesn't do! If I did a treatment, it would be on Wednesday, I think, so what medicine would I get for that?

 

Have you tried a salt dip. Sorry I didn't see prior post from when this started.

 

It's fine, but yes I've also tried aquarium salt. Could it be fungal and not bacterial? I thought basically all finrot was bacterial, but even Kanaplex had no effect.

Sorry it's not a good , I think he's a little sleepy now so I turned off the lights and he's retreating back into his plants for a nap. I'll try to get a better one some time tomorrow if you need/want it.

 

Did you ever notice disruption to his scalrs? Usually that is fungal which can lead to fin rot

It appears as a white, cotton-like slime on the fish. Fortunately, most fungal infections only attack the external tissues of fish. Has he been rubbing on things?

Sorry it's not a good , I think he's a little sleepy now so I turned off the lights and he's retreating back into his plants for a nap. I'll try to get a better one some time tomorrow if you need/want it.

I don't see any from this view. Sometimes it takes time for the fins to grow back ..but his are getting worse? I love bettas so I really want to help you figure this out.

 

Yeah, I can see it slowly receding and some bits are red, as well as other places being white and fuzzy. I've seen less bleeding recently, but his tail is already basically a stump anyways.

He hasn't been acting odd at all, and I don't see anything on his scales. It happened right as he was recovering from dropsy, and he just never fully healed from the finrot.

 

Is it a white cotton like appearance?

 

Sort of? It's definitely fuzzy but not like a columnaris-kind of fuzzy. Looks like the tip of a ripped paper towel ripped in the middle.

 

Ok since he has that.. I'm going with a fungus. Eliminate fungus with Ampicillin or Tetracycline. You should see improvement. It will take some time for his tail to grow but let's get this problem tackled first.

Fungus can lead to fin rot.

Keep up with water changes as that will help him most. Let me know how he's progressing. We can always alter course if need be but I'm thinking this is it. The white fuzzy did it for me to lean that way.

 

Isn't M Blue for fungus as well? I also have Maracyn 2 at home, but people also suggested erythromycin. I read a little about it, does tetracycline kill bb? I don't have an actual quarantine tank or extra filter which is why I'm worried. What medicines have ampicillin? I didn't see anything.

 

It's fine, but yes I've also tried aquarium salt. Could it be fungal and not bacterial? I thought basically all finrot was bacterial, but even Kanaplex had no effect.

Sorry it's not a good , I think he's a little sleepy now so I turned off the lights and he's retreating back into his plants for a nap. I'll try to get a better one some time tomorrow if you need/want it.

Ok since he has that.. I'm going with a fungus. Eliminate fungus with Ampicillin or Tetracycline. You should see improvement. It will take some time for his tail to grow but let's get this problem tackled first.

Fungus can lead to fin rot.

Keep up with water changes as that will help him most. Let me know how he's progressing. We can always alter course if need be but I'm thinking this is it. The white fuzzy did it for me to lean that way.

One thing I can say with certainty is that it is not fungal. Fungal infections can only get started if there is dead tissue, so any living tissue without a problem can't get fungal infections. It's possible for fungal infections to set in along with bacterial, but you still have to get rid of that bacterial infection first. Most things in the aquarium that look fungal are actually bacterial, like columnairs.