Untreatable Finrot In Betta?

I also read that tetracycline is bad for bleeding fish? I'm getting so confused! What about Jungle Fungus Clear?

I just read your message, so do you think erythromycin is still the way to go? I'm prepared to order it, or any other medication that will help. He still hasn't shown as much bleeding as before, but the rot is definitely still there

 

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.

Then how do you fix this. He's had the problem for a long time. He's tried everything to fix it. He has white fuzziness on his fish along with really bad bleeding fin rot. A salt water bath will help ease the hurt and stress but I don't think it will over all heal it. Open to other suggestions. I would hate for him to lose his fish.

 

Then how do you fix this. He's had the problem for a long time. He's tried everything to fix it. He has white fuzziness on his fish along with really bad bleeding fin rot. A salt water bath will help ease the hurt and stress but I don't think it will over all heal it. Open to other suggestions. I would hate for him to lose his fish.

Sorry, but, what do you mean? You don't have to explain the situation to me, I've been offering my advice on how to fix it for the past several days. Not trying to be rude, legitimately curious, are you unable to see my other comments on this thread? Also, salt water dips have already been tried as well, so I fail to see your point. He's probably not going to die from this unless something worse, like septicimia, develops from it. I have two bettas that have had constant finrot for several months, one for 5 months, the other for 7 months, and neither are dead. Betta splendis have been modified in such a way that the edges of the fin don't have good bloodflow, and often rot away from the lack of nutrients. I've recommended a few medications, and my advice, if the meds fail, is to take more breaks and eventually stop trying to treat it.

 

Ok, I was considering to try paraguard bath today and then M Blue dip tomorrow and alternate them? And try one more medication with erythromycin, or some other med that's recommend.

 

Sorry, but, what do you mean? You don't have to explain the situation to me, I've been offering my advice on how to fix it for the past several days. Not trying to be rude, legitimately curious, are you unable to see my other comments on this thread? Also, salt water dips have already been tried as well, so I fail to see your point. He's probably not going to die from this unless something worse, like septicimia, develops from it. I have two bettas that have had constant finrot for several months, one for 5 months, the other for 7 months, and neither are dead. Betta splendis have been modified in such a way that the edges of the fin don't have good bloodflow, and often rot away from the lack of nutrients. I've recommended a few medications, and my advice, if the meds fail, is to take more breaks and eventually stop trying to treat it.

No it's hard to follow all the replies. He asked about amounts of salt and type of salt. I replied with a utube video on saltwater dips to help him and I didn't know an answer for his type of salt. You might want to reply to him about that bc I don't know. Also saltwater dips help the fish destress and eases pain. No it won't heal it but it helps the fish. In my opinion. It's a beautiful fish and it needs to heal. His fins are in bad shape.

 

Huh? I already did an 8 minute salt bath every day for a week before the Kanaplex treatment with 1 tbsp, which is what people said I should use, but it didn't really help and he actually seemed more stressed (probably from constantly being caught) so I did the Kanaplex treatment and stopped. I was considering to use M Blue again today, as I saved some solution from yesterday and I believe he reacted quite well as he is very active today, despite his fins not improveme much. Please just tell me whether or not I should get erythromycin or use Paraguard, I think the hydrogen peroxide and salt stressed him a lot so I really don't want to use them on him again.

 

Hey, I'm sorry for not getting back to you, I can't get any of my messages to upload and I'm just getting redirected to the main house page for some reason. Hopefully this finally works.
I'm going to recommend something that seems counter intuitive, but I think it's for the best. Only do one med per week, and I mean one dose/dip/etc. The M Blue bath can be saved basically indefinitely, if your fish hasn't pooped in it, it can be left at room temp, if your fish has, see if you can keep it in the fridge. Just be sure it doesn't evaporate too much and change the dosage level.
Try Paraguard a week after the first M Blue bath. I'm sorry, I know how hard it is to wait to medicate your fish, but you're really doing the best.
Salt baths seem to only stress my fish worse, so personally I don't like them.

 

Thanks for the reply, I wasn't expecting it super fast. So I don't get erythromycin, I just do daily water changes and try Paraguard next week? And then if it doesn't work M Blue again, or then try erthyromycin? I can't tell if he's getting any better since he's more active today and spazzing a ton, but his fins are still white and not clear.

 

Accents this should help you a lot. It's a bit long to read but is worth it. It has treatment recommendations.

It's called extreme fin rot and can at this point turn into body rot.

Fin Rot 101

 

I don't think I'm trying the salt, he was really bad in it and listless for a couple hours...

I'm still currently considering erythromycin or jungle fungus clear, but the issue is that I don't really have a quarantine tank.

 

Is he by himself? I know this isn't the best but hey desperate times make for desperate measures. If so, turn your filter off and use your tank. After treatment do a 100% water change and clean deco. Or just remove it prior. Also that article mentions using jungle fungas. Very informative article.

You could also use a bowl or a small bucket/container from like a dollar store or a bowl you can sacrifice. I know it's unconventional but hey gotta do what you gotta do right.

 

I do have 1 gallon tubs, I was just going to buy both medications if another M Blue dip doesn't work since I think that has helped a bit.

Looks a bit less fuzzy than before, that's about it, but better than anything else I've tried.

 

What was your PH? Under your profile it says 8.0 is that right?

Bettas are soft water fish, and prefer a pH of neutral (7.0) or slightly acidic. They can adapt to a higher pH, as long as it is stable.

 

Haven't updated in a while, it's at 7.5 now but with the addition of IAL, probably 7.0. it is pretty stable, except when I added the first batch and the water stained super fast, but even that was over a course of a day.

 

Ok. Try to keep his water warm..which you probably already are..just covering bases

 

Yup, consistently at 80°F. Do I basically just try the 2-3 medications (spaced out,) keep up with water changes, and hope for the best? Is there a way to at least prevent it from spreading at all, even if his fins don't grow back?

 

Go to the bottom of the article and it should have treatment protocol. If not let me know.

No it will progress to body rot.

 

I am going to try to order erythromycin and jungle cure, those were the only two I could find online that my parents are also willing to buy for me.

 

I think those will work. Instructions are on the bottles also. Don't worry we will fix him

 

Thanks, I think I will do a M Blue dip, and then see if there's any new improvement since he's been through quite a tough time and I don't want to overload him if I can help it, at least give him a break while the meds are getting here.

 

Yeah lil guy's been through a lot. He probably would like a rest. What's his name?

Just curious....Have you noticed the progression to have stopped. No more fin loss? Any healing at all? If so it could be healed and he just need to regrow his tail. Which takes time. It will be thin and clear at first but gain color with time.

Just quickly went through my mind to ask.

I compared your pictures from the start to your last one. He appears better. Is it the picture or has the bleeding stopped and the base just prior to his poor little tail..is it turnig blue? It looked white prior.

 

You can wait to order the meds if you want. If the methylene blue dip gave some relief, and as you said, the best yet, I think after the next break is over, you should do a methylene blue bath. On the bottle, the dose for fish eggs (1tsp per gallon), is the one you'll want to use. Pick up a sterilite container or something like that, shoot for at least 3 gallons (12qt), and dose in there. 10 drops per gallon work as well. Put him in for 3 days, don't feed during that time, dip him in a separate container after the three days and put him back in his normal aquarium. I'm sorry to ask, have you done this already? My bran is all messed up and I couldn't really get on yesterday.
Edit: You don't have to worry about body rot yet, I've dealt with it once, we aren't near there yet. It's just severe fin rot.

 

Well, his whole tail is basically naturally clear/white so it was probably iridescence. It's a little hard for me to tell, because of the colour of his tail, but it hasn't gotten drastically worse. I haven't done an M Blue dip or bath yet, or even found a spare container, but I have an extra one gallon one and an extra heater.

Wait, so I get another container, add ten drops per gallon and put him in that for three days without feeding, and then take him out and do a dip before putting him back into his main tank? So he's in M Blue for the whole duration?

His name is Mephistopheles, I thought it would fit since betta fish are like angry puppies, but he's not really that aggressive for a betta fish.

 

Well, his whole tail is basically naturally clear/white so it was probably iridescence. It's a little hard for me to tell, because of the colour of his tail, but it hasn't gotten drastically worse. I haven't done an M Blue dip or bath yet, or even found a spare container, but I have an extra one gallon one and an extra heater.

Wait, so I get another container, add ten drops per gallon and put him in that for three days without feeding, and then take him out and do a dip before putting him back into his main tank? So he's in M Blue for the whole duration?

His name is Mephistopheles, I thought it would fit since betta fish are like angry puppies, but he's not really that aggressive for a betta fish.

Sorry, you'll want to do 10 drops per gallon in a separate container and leave him in there for 3 days, in the M Blue, then dip him in clean, non M Blue water for a little bit, just to rinse it off him, before putting him in the main tank, as M Blue will kill BB

 

Thank you! Do I just suck some up with a pipette and let drops fall out? Should I add some decor to hide in, and will it ruin a heater?

 

Thank you! Do I just suck some up with a pipette and let drops fall out? Should I add some decor to hide in, and will it ruin a heater?

Shoot, forgot about heater, I've only done prolonged baths with goldfish, lol. I doubt it would ruin a heater, but I would just rinse it off really well before putting it back in the main tank.
For me, I just pierced the top of the tinfoil thing under the cap and drip it out from there. All you need is a toothpick.

 

Oh, I ripped there whole thing off... I'll use my messed up pipette and put drops in then.

 

Oh, I ripped there whole thing off... I'll use my messed up pipette and put drops in then.

Hey that's how most people do it, lol! I'm just the weird one.

 

Oh hahaha. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm going to try a bath on Thursday, although I might have some other questions... Should I give daily updates?

 

Oh hahaha. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm going to try a bath on Thursday, although I might have some other questions... Should I give daily updates?

Sure, if you want to. I'd like to hear how he's doing. And good luck!

 

Thank you for all the help!

 

Well, his whole tail is basically naturally clear/white so it was probably iridescence. It's a little hard for me to tell, because of the colour of his tail, but it hasn't gotten drastically worse. I haven't done an M Blue dip or bath yet, or even found a spare container, but I have an extra one gallon one and an extra heater.

Wait, so I get another container, add ten drops per gallon and put him in that for three days without feeding, and then take him out and do a dip before putting him back into his main tank? So he's in M Blue for the whole duration?

His name is Mephistopheles, I thought it would fit since betta fish are like angry puppies, but he's not really that aggressive for a betta fish.

Great name. I only see a small streak of red by his tail. You could do one more dip and see. I would let him rest a few days and see how he's doing. I think he's healed and just needs his tail to grow.

 

Yeah tbh, I did more dips. I'm going to see if it heals at all by tomorrow--friday, as I see more fuzziness after a day with no dips. I still might do M Blue bath though, it seems to really help. I'll post another update tomorrow since it's really late and he's sleeping, but honestly I hope I can just heal his tail a little and it won't grow back because he's so much happier and more active when he can move around a little easier.

 

Sorry I forget to post a picture! I did a dip today and he was a little stressed so I turned off the lights...

His tail looks the same as two days ago, a little fuzzy but much less than before with a tiny bit of red. I filled up a 1 gal container to let the pH change to what he's used to (I believe mine rises by 0.5) and stuck a heater in. I'm going to find a lid, should I do a 3 day bath? There isn't any regrowth still and it's been quite a while since the fuzziness started going away.

 

Sorry it's bad quality, he suddenly shot out so I quickly took two pictures before he settled down again and I turned the light off.

 

Sorry it's bad quality, he suddenly shot out so I quickly took two pictures before he settled down again and I turned the light off.

He's looking better. Go ahead and do the baths then let him rest.

 

Yeah he is looking much better, but still no sign of regrowth and his dorsal fin is still bleeding. I was thinking of just doing the three day bath to see if it works, the dips didn't really heal it although they helped a lot.

 

Yeah he is looking much better, but still no sign of regrowth and his dorsal fin is still bleeding. I was thinking of just doing the three day bath to see if it works, the dips didn't really heal it although they helped a lot.

Wow he's looking so much better. So much color. I may have replied dip..I meant bath. He's looking so much better.

 

Ok! I aged the water for a couple days so the pH should match, can I just put him in now then? I have a tub with a bumblebee catfish underneath with a sponge filter so I tied the two sponges together as to not lose my cycle, is that okay? I've had it for at least a year too, so it's not sick either. (It is the permanent home as it has a pretty large footprint which isis bigg than the bottom of a 20, but without the height, as it become very obese in the other tank...

Anyways, I can put him in then? It's his fasting day, should I feed him so that he has a little food before fasting for 3 more days?

Sorry I need so much reassuring, isit just so stressful to medicate fish...

 

Ok actually I just put him in, he's definitely not happy with me but I didn't expect him to be nearly as excited as is his own tank, so I'll check up on him tomorrow morning and night again, if he's okay I'll leave him and add prime but if he's doing badly I'll take him out, rinse him off in tank water, and then put him back in. So I just keep him in there for 3 days then?