FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I bought a betta for my sister on Saturday that is absolutely the most beautiful boy I've ever seen!

His name is Smudge.

Unfortunately he has developed holes in his dorsal and tail fins. Not tears or anything, just perfectly round holes with no redness. There are about four of them.

How would you treat this?

We put a bit of pimafix in his bowl but I'm not sure this is the right way to go.

Any suggestions?

Danielle do you have any plastic plants in his tank? these could cause holes.

What I use is Jungle's Fungal Eliminator (from Walmart) and 1/2 tsp of aqua salt per gallon.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Thanks for the reply.

Smudge has a nice soft broad-leafed silk plant.

I imagine the salt has to be added to the bowl when the fish is not in it?

I could pick up some Jungle's Fungal Eliminator but if the pimafix is just as good I'd like to save the money.

Do you know whether they are basically the same?

Has anybody used pimafix on a betta in a bowl before?

[span class="edited"][Edited by Danielle 2004-06-09 18:59][/span]

Hi danielle, I've used Pimafix in a bowl on my bettas before, and, while it doesn't cure finrot, (it's much too wussy for that) it will promote regrowth and discourage infection.

When my bettas had finrot, i would treat with antibiotics and the finrot would go away, but the regrowth would never stay, no matter how well i took care of them. 100% water changes once a week (they're in 3 gallon containers, so that's plenty!) warm dechlorinated water kept at an even 80 degrees, plenty of quality food and occasional bloodworm treats... you name it, I did it for them! (and still do... )

I was using melafix to help the regrowth process, but one day i decided to try Pimafix. It's been two weeks and the finrot is licked, lots of new regrowth and none of the regrowth has disintegrated.

Long story short, it works great when it comes to promoting regrowth and discouraging infection, but if your betta's fins start receding, bring out the big guns (antibiotics) as well, because it won't treat it alone.

Urm, you really don't wanna start messing with antibiotics unless you really know what you are treating. \

I'd do (and have done) exactly what Light_Bright suggested. A Fungus/finrot treatment & aquarium salt.

Okey dokey all!

We'll continue our present course and salt him as well.

Thank you!

i thought i made it clear that i was advising the use of antibiotics only if his fins start receding...

Long story short, it works great when it comes to promoting regrowth and discouraging infection, but if your betta's fins start receding, bring out the big guns (antibiotics) as well, because it won't treat it alone.

meh... i was tired.

Oh, one other thing. Is it necessary to agitate the water while he is being treated with the pimafix?

I hope not, as Smudge is in a 1 gal bowl and the air pump I have would make him feel like he were in a pot of boiling water! :%)

[span class="edited"][Edited by Danielle 2004-06-11 10:28][/span]

no you don't need a filter if you are doing 100% water changes weekly.

___________________________________________

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

Thank you!

Well, I don't think that the pimafix worked out very well.
I was at my sister's house this morning and asked her how Smudge was doing. She said that he had gone off his food so I went to have a look at him.
His water was FULL of strings of a clear substance I am positive was the pimafix. It didn't mix well with the water in the bowl. I don't think Smudge would have appreciated us sticking a spoon in there to stir things up so we changed his water and put in a dose of Bettafix.
I hope everthing works out because I would love to post his picture.

[span class="edited"][Edited by Danielle 2004-06-13 20:54][/span]

good luck with your new betta. give it betta max and it should be o.k

Shouldn't really medicate unless nessecary-as in fish has diseases. Rips, tears and holes can be fixed easily with clean water.

ashley

Thanks. The problem was fixed with bettafix a long time ago and the fish was, and is, kept in pristine water conditions.

[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-08-12 18:10][/span]