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hey, so i've been noticing sidon, my twin tail half moon betta, has fins that look kinda rough lately? i'm getting a bit worried about fin rot and i wanna take care of it before it's too late. can anyone recommend some good products to help prevent fin rot? i'd super appreciate the help!

What's the pH level in Sidon's tank, is it on the higher side

whetu wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 2:55 am What's the pH level in Sidon's tank, is it on the higher side

I'm not entirely sure about the alkalinity of his system, but I do make sure to use a water conditioner - Top Fin is what I've been using - and I also add aquarium salt, API brand, whenever I do water changes.

whetu said:

How's your water change routine, how much do you replace at a time

boulderk wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 2:01 am hey, so i've been noticing sidon, my twin tail half moon betta, has fins that look kinda rough lately? i'm getting a bit worried about fin rot and i wanna take care of it before it's too late. can anyone recommend some good products to help prevent fin rot? i'd super appreciate the help!

I'll let others share their thoughts on this, see if they've got any advice that might help you with Sidon's fin issue.

whetu wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 2:55 am What's the pH level in Sidon's tank, is it on the higher side

It would be great if you could share your solution with us, we're all ears.

Consider adding plants to your tank, covering around 30-50% of its volume. This will help create a stable environment and reduce chemicals. I'd recommend using a neutral or slightly acidic base. As for filtration, it's not necessary for a fighter like Sidon. If you're using a water conditioner, that's fine, but try changing only 25% of the water at a time. The plants will act as a biological filter, helping to keep the water clean. Aim for slightly acidic water, as this will help convert fish waste into something less toxic. Alkaline or hard water can be problematic for fighting fish and may contribute to fin decay.

I was just wondering, is Sidon's tank set up to give him plenty of places to chill out? If he's not got enough spots to rest, he might be getting stressed and nipping at his own tail, which could be part of the problem with his fins.

I'm not seeing the typical signs of fin biting - usually, you'd notice bigger chunks missing. I'd recommend trying daily water changes of 70% for the next 10 days, and adding some dissolved aquarium salt - start with 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons on the first day. After that, scale it back to 3/4 tablespoon per 5 gallons for each water change. If you don't see any improvement after 5 days, you might want to consider trying a bacterial medication like Furan-2 to see if that helps clear things up.

It doesn't appear to be fin biting as I would expect to see larger portions missing. I recommend daily water changes of 70% for a period of 10 days, adding 1 tablespoon of dissolved aquarium salt per 5 gallons on the first day, then 3/4 tablespoon per 5 gallons for the remaining days. If no improvement is seen after 5 days, consider using a bacterial medication such as Furan-2.