Chronic fin rot - nothing is working

[Falconer]

Watson, my rescue betta, has been through a lot - he's got a bent spine, but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Stress from my recent move caused him to chomp off a chunk of his tail. It's been slowly growing back over the past four months, but he's had fin rot the entire time. I've tried various meds, regular water changes, even a hospital tank - nothing's worked. His 10gal tank's water parameters are perfect, but I stopped meds a week ago to give him a break. Now the rot's spreading fast and he's getting really agitated. I feel like I've exhausted all options - what else can I try to help him?

[Fablet]

Watson, my rescue betta, has been through a lot - he's got a bent spine, but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Stress from my recent move caused him to chomp off a chunk of his tail. It's been slowly growing back over the past four months, but he's had fin rot the entire time. I've tried various meds, regular water changes, even a hospital tank - nothing's worked. His 10gal tank's water parameters are perfect, but I stopped meds a week ago to give him a break. Now the rot's spreading fast and he's getting really agitated. I feel like I've exhausted all options - what else can I try to help him?

I'd love to help you figure out what's going on with Watson. You mentioned the water parameters are great, but could you give us some actual numbers? I'm curious to know the specifics, like pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

Stress is often the culprit behind fish illnesses, so let's dive deeper into that. What medications have you tried so far, and what's the setup like in his tank? Is it heated, and are there any tank mates or decorations that could be causing him stress? I'm also wondering if there are any sharp edges or points that he could be snagging his fins on.

Another thing to consider is the current from your filter. Betta fish aren't exactly built for swimming in strong currents, given their elaborate fins. How strong is the flow, and do you think it could be contributing to his fin rot? How often do you perform water changes, and how much water do you replace each time?

Lastly, is your filter intake baffled or covered in any way? I use a sponge to cover mine, just to prevent any accidents if Watson swims too close and gets his fins sucked in.