5 Gallon Tank What’s wrong with my betta?

[Hsmillard]

I think my betta has fin rot. How do I know if it’s bacterial or fungal? What do I need to do? I purchased Fritz Maracyn Oxy today, recommended by the pet store.
this is my child’s fish, I don’t want it to die or try to replace it, as it has a unique coloring.
pictures of fins when brought home, and fins now.

 

[Fishfur]

I think my betta has fin rot. How do I know if it’s bacterial or fungal? What do I need to do? I purchased Fritz Maracyn Oxy today, recommended by the pet store.
this is my child’s fish, I don’t want it to die or try to replace it, as it has a unique coloring.
pictures of fins when brought home, and fins now.

Could you post one more picture showing the fish fully on one side, with fins spread out? It looks to me like the fish may have bitten its fins, which is a problem but not an infection.

 

[axolotlsman]

Bro i have a betta and yours looks normal to me

Bro i have a betta and yours looks normal to me

ok nvm i have a betta and it had fin rot just go to petsmart and ask for powder medicicne for betta fin rot it should be green i forget what its called

It’s very lethargic and doesn’t swim much unless startled. I can try in a bit to get it moving around

how big of a tank is it

 

[Hsmillard]

Could you post one more picture showing the fish fully on one side, with fins spread out? It looks to me like the fish may have bitten its fins, which is a problem but not an infection.

It’s very lethargic and doesn’t swim much unless startled. I can try in a bit to get it moving around
His pectoral fins are also degrading. I don’t think he’s eating them

how big of a tank is it

5 gallon

 

[axolotlsman]

His pectoral fins are also degrading. I don’t think he’s eating them

5 gallon

ok how long has it been sience u did a water change

 

[Hsmillard]

ok how long has it been sience u did a water change

2 days ago did 25% water change

2 days ago did 25% water change

Last week did two different 50% change

 

[axolotlsman]

2 days ago did 25% water change

do 30-50 a week ok?

2 days ago did 25% water change

Last week did two different 50%

Wait do you use and declorinator or water treaters after you change your water?

 

[Hsmillard]

do 30-50 a week ok?

Wait do you use and declorinator or water treaters after you change your water?

Add stresscoat+ and quick start

Add stresscoat+ and quick start

And I use prepared aquarium water as our tap water is softened

 

[axolotlsman]

Add stresscoat+ and quick start

thats your problem that quikstart i wouldnt use i recommend dropping both and just use what we use at my fish store Top Fin Betta Water Conditioner

 

[Lucy]

Hi welcome to FishLore!
I'm sorry your betta is worrying you.
If you could fill out the emergency template, it will help get all the questions in one post

 

[Lucy]

thats your problem that quikstart i wouldnt use i recommend dropping both and just use what we use at my fish store Top Fin Betta Water Conditioner

Respectfully, That is not the problem.

Quick starts and Stresscoat+ Do not cause fin rot, if that's what this is.

 

[Hsmillard]

Hi welcome to FishLore!
I'm sorry your betta is worrying you.
If you could fill out the emergency template, it will help get all the questions in one post

Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 5 gallons
How long has the tank been running? 2.5months
Does it have a filter? Yes
Does it have a heater? Yes
What is the water temperature? 80°f
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)
One male betta

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Weekly
How much of the water do you change? 25%
What do you use to treat your water? Prepared water, add quickstart and stresscoat+
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Vacuum substrate (gravel)


*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? I’m learning I did not.
What do you use to test the water? Tetra 6 in 1 strips
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH: 8.4

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? 6 days, 2X day
How much do you feed your fish? 2 pieces per feeding
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Tetra Betta 3-in-1 Select-a-food
Do you feed frozen? No
Do you feed freeze-dried foods? Yes

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? June 25th 2023
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? A month ago
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Looks like fin rot
Have you started any treatment for the illness? Maracyn Oxy
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? Losing fin tissue, lethargic

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)
Started with lethargy, not reacting to feedings, laying on bottom of tank, fins started to get shorter and rough looking a month ago.
Pictures showing progression of fin deterioration
June 28. August 10. Today

 

[axolotlsman]

What I recommend is lowering the temp to 77
And your pH is way to high

What I recommend is lowering the temp to 77
And your pH is way to high

So the pH is definitely your problem

My first thought would be it's a result of an uncycled tank but your readings don't indicate an excess of ammonia or nitrites.

Finrot can have several causes, let's tag a member who can hopefully help further,
Rose of Sharon

Am I not a guy that can help????

 

[Lucy]

My first thought would be it's a result of an uncycled tank but your readings don't indicate an excess of ammonia or nitrites.

Finrot can have several causes, let's tag a member who can hopefully help further,
Rose of Sharon

 

[Lucy]

Am I not a guy that can help????

I dunno. You said stress coat+ and quick start were definitely the problem as well.

At any rate, please don't put words in my mouth, Rose of Sharon is a long-time, experienced respected member so don't get defensive.

 

[axolotlsman]

I dunno. You said stress coat+ and quick start were definitely the problem as

I dunno. You said stress coat+ and quick start were definitely the problem as well.

At any rate, please don't put words in my mouth, Rose of Sharon is a long-time, experienced respected member so don't get defensive.

well.

At any rate, please don't put words in my mouth, Rose of Sharon is a long-time, experienced respected member so don't get defensive.

Whatever I'm sorry

 

[Fishfur]

When you say you’re using prepared water, I presume that’s bottled water? Do you know what its parameters are, specifically, its pH, KH, GH? Does it have a brand name or is it store prepared?

Why don’t you want to use the tap water?

 

[Hsmillard]

When you say you’re using prepared water, I presume that’s bottled water? Do you know what its parameters are, specifically, its pH, KH, GH? Does it have a brand name or is it store prepared?

Why don’t you want to use the tap water?

I use this water Top Fin® Pre-Conditioned Aquarium Water | fish Water Care & Conditioning | PetSmart
we have a water softener so our tap water is too soft and salty at times

 

[Fishfur]

I use the attached water.
we have a water softener so our tap water is too soft and salty at times

Thanks and I understand the issue with softened water. If you don’t mind paying for bottled water, it’s certainly one way to deal with the problem.

But I have to say I nearly choked when I saw the price on that water. $14.95 for 2.5 gallons? Wow.

Have you considered using regular bottled spring water? It would cost a great deal less and it has no chlorine/chloramine so you still won’t need conditioner, which means the Stress Coat+, which despite its misleading name is nothing but a water conditioner. It’s not a stress medicine or treatment for anything.

Your pH is higher than bettas generally are happy with but the Top Fin water does not state its pH, GH or KH that I can see on the PetSmart site, which would annoy the dickens out of me if I had a need for it. I’d make them test it in the store for me, I think, at that price.

Most bottled spring water works very well, costs maybe a buck a gallon and it’s not likely to have a pH that high either.

Meantime, if the pectoral fins are looking ragged too, then he probably does have some fin rot. I normally treat fin rot with a week or 10 days of daily 50% water changes. That almost always cures mild to moderate cases. If it’s not responding well in a week, I’ll also apply Methylene blue, as it comes from the bottle, directly to all affected areas on the fish. It’s a stress for them, no question, but I think the benefit outweighs the stress. MB is as good a fungal treatment as we have for fish and it’s also mildly antibacterial and usually a few days with MB applied plus the water changes is all that’s required.

New tissue can best be seen with backlighting - light behind the fish. It’ll usually appear as a clear fringe on the edges and it’ll colour up a bit later.

You won’t see it show up immediately - but if you aren’t seeing any new tissue after a week of water changes I’d start using the MB as well. It’s pretty rare for fin rot to actually need an antibiotic to be cured.

I typically make a point of changing half the water twice a week for fish that have had fin rot - some bettas seem quite prone to it and I figure the extra water change is a pretty cheap way to try to stave off future episodes.

 

[Hsmillard]

So much info! Thank you
Should I use spring water, distilled, drinking, or nursery etc,

 

[Rose of Sharon]

So much info! Thank you
Should I use spring water, distilled, drinking, or nursery etc,

Hi,

Spring water is the best. It has nutrients that the betta will need. This should get your ph down to about 7.3 to 7.8 or so, depending on where it comes from. I use it all of the time as our water is pretty off, too.

When you add the new water, make sure that the new water matches the temp of the old tank water to avoid temperature shock.

I agree with everything that Fishfur said....daily water changes will help a lot.

 

[Hsmillard]

Fin rot won.. he parished 9/19/23

 

[Rose of Sharon]

So very sorry for your loss!!! SIP, sweet boy!!!