FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Ahh! I'm very worried about my poor betta. He is a beautiful scarlet red and loves just swimming around and hanging out in his bowl. Yeah I know, lots of people think it's bad to keep a betta in a gallon bowl, but I keep the water very clean and like to think I take good care of him. I normally do a full water change every five days or so. The water is never dirty looking, always clean. Well I just changed his water last night and was looking at him and notice the very tip of his tail is very dark on the edges. I started freaking out but looked online and it looks exactly like the pictures of fin rot, just at the very beginning stage. I'm very worried because I don't fee like I've ever neglected him. His mood hasn't changed at all. He's still active and his fins aren't clamped down at all. He looks completely normal and beautiful except for the very tip of his tail. I was reading up on fin rot and some places said to treat it with medication, while others said that just keeping him in v.v.v. clean water (full change everyday) will let it heal on its own. What should I do? I just noticed it and it's definitely in an early stage, but I definitely don't want it to progress any further. I'd appreciate comments.

Hi

I'm not an expert at this but I can tell you of my experience with my betta. I also have mine in a 1 gallon bowl however I do 100% water changes every 2 days. I also add a little bit of aquarium salt and of course, water conditioner each and everytime. He developed fin rot last Dec./05 after I had just purchased him and I treated him for almost a month with a fungus eliminator and adding a little bit of Melafix, while still maintaining the strict 2 day complete water changes. I was always careful to try and keep him as calm as possible during these changes so as not to stress him and have more bits of fin fall off. I did not stop the medication until I was sure no more bits of his fins were falling off and I could see some regrowth.

He has been free of fin rot until just yesterday where it has reared it's ugly head again and I'm doing the same treatment process.

Hope this helps!



*Mitch*

I just bought the Melafix and did the first dose. I haven't noticed any fin falling off, but I'm keeping an eye out. I'll change more often, like you said. Thanks for the help!

No problem. If you haven't already done so, you might want to do a search on fin rot on this site where it explains fin rot in great detail and the meds you may need. I use Jungle Fungus Eliminator but there are other meds that are effective. Good luck


*Mitch*