Betta fin rot?

[Dimity]

My betta has what appears to be fin rot. Water condition is good except for hardness which is high even though I use betta water. Treating with API Melafix and added salt. He seems listless. Any suggestions? Top pic is what he used to look like. The bottom is this morning.

 

[The Snark]

SIGH
Well, here it comes. Appears to be fin rot. Paraphrased from the HSU freshwater biology folks.
1. Assume the worst. Fin rot is usually caused by a virulent gram negative bacteria. Assume it to be a pseudomonas.
2. With gram negative bacteria, it isn't just the fish that is infected. The water, the tank, all objects in the water, and whoever had had contact with the tank are infected.
3. Gram negative bacterias are very hard to kill. Eradication is a three step process.
- A Identifying the bacteria and isolating everything that has been potentially infected.
- B Use of sterilizing agents on all surfaces and objects and type three isolation protocols for the environment and anyone who has been in contact with it.
- C The use of an antibiotic course in the water that targets the specific organism or a broad spectrum antibiotic and hoping the bacteria is not resistant.
4. The fish will likely die during the treatment if it has been stressed.
5. Culturing the specific bacteria can take up to 10 days and in the case of aeromonas or pseudomonas this is ample opportunity to establish itself on every surface the water in the tank has come in contact with.
6. Until full eradication has been accomplished consider yourself a carrier of the bacteria and can spread the bacteria throughout your home.
7. Many gram negative bacteria can survive in open air for a prolonged period of time. Simple isolation and drying out the aquarium may not be sufficient. Repeated applications of strong sterilizing agents are in order.

Your first step is getting the bacteria cultured. Contact the appropriate vet for detailed instructions OR contact a vet and use the shotgun method of maintaining an appropriate concentration of a broad spectrum antibiotic in the water for a prescribed period of time. The antibiotic by itself usually adds to the stress of the fish.
And isolate isolate isolate.


Treatment of fin rot is the same as for a human that has suffered a third degree burn that has become infected. Isolation and assume the bacteria will take every opportunity, pathway, to reinfect the patient.

 

[Dimity]

Well let's hope it's not fin rot then...

 

[Dimity]

I had a male guppy in another tank who got what looked like the same thing but none of the other fish caught it. Before I could get him into a hospital tank the heater malfunctioned and all of the fish cooked. I cleaned ( not sterilized) the tank and all of it's contents and put more guppies in it and they are doing fine.

 

[Jumbie Spider]

Try a water change with some aquarium salt to start.
You can use Oxytetracycline or Kanamycin or something similar to tackle the fin rot.

 

[Dimity]

OK thanks.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Don't know if this helps but i had a betta that developed a similar appearance. I changed the water out with spring water over a short period. It recovered. Took a little while. This was years ago and my water is incredibly hard. The fish has since passed but it worked for me at the time.

 

[mickiem]

Beautiful fish! It looks like a rosefin betta. Doesn't matter, most of the full finned bettas like this are prone to issues affecting the fins. It helps to have lots of free open space and a moderate to low water flow. The salt will definitely help as well. Best of luck, like the Snark said, it is difficult to pinpoint and target an exact treatment. Lots of different pathogens are lumped under fin rot.

 

[The Snark]

Before administering an antibiotic, especially a broad spectrum one as the tetracycline family, it is strongly suggested an expert be consulted. Various nutrients can inhibit antibiotic effectiveness and the antibiotic can inhibit assimilation of nutrients. Broad spectrum antibiotics can also inadvertently facilitate growth of other organisms and if proper dosage and duration are not carefully followed may facilitate organisms developing immunities.
Rules of thumb:
Leave prescribing of drugs to the experts.
Always get the name of the drug
Always check the drugs for contraindications and side effects. NOTE: physicians and veterinarians often overlook this thus it is your responsibility.

Over use of broad spectrum antibiotics has trained various organisms to become resistant. MRSA as a prime example. Use narrow spectrum specifically targeted antibiotics whenever feasible.

Antibiotic Stewardship and Spectrum Guide | Infectious Diseases Management Program at UCSF

idmp.ucsf.edu

 

[Dimity]

Thanks everyone for your help. He actually seemed to be getting his appetite back earlier today. I did a water change using betta water, about 30% and got the gravel really clean. Took out the last plant he could be catching his fins on (I've some silicone ones for after he's cured). I will go back to the salt, Melafix, and stress coat and see if he keeps improving.

 

[Dimity]

Update on my betta Leopold... he seemed pretty listless when I turned his light on this morning but had no problem going for the pellets as they foated down. It looks like he's getting some regrowth on his fins but it's so hard to tell at this point. I did find an uneaten pellet on the tank floor and attached a pic, also of one dry and of his fin. Is that fungus growing on the food?

 

[mickiem]

Hope he continues to improve!