help with my betta's shredded fins
help with my betta's shredded fins
Over the past week and a half, I've been noticing my Betta just chillin' at the bottom of the tank more often. I figured he was just catching some Z's. But today I took a closer look and, man, his fins are all torn up. I don't have a water test kit on hand, but the tank is pretty established, so I'm hoping that's not the issue. What can I do to help the little guy out? I've got some pics from when I first got him and from today if that helps.
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Giggletons - Posts: 172
- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:36 am
Re: help with my betta's shredded fins
Looks like your betta might've gotten hurt by something sharp or maybe he's got fin rot going on.
Re: help with my betta's shredded fins
First things first, double-check the tank to ensure there aren't any sharp objects that could've caused the injury.
When it comes to addressing health concerns, I always recommend doing a big water change every day for about a week – it's a simple yet effective approach.
Now, let's get into the specifics for your situation.
First, give the inside of the glass a good wipe down with a clean fish sponge. This will remove the biofilm that's accumulated on the glass, which can harbor all sorts of unwanted bacteria, fungus, and protozoans.
Next, do a 75% water change and clean the gravel daily for a week. This will significantly reduce the number of disease-causing organisms in the water, giving your Betta a cleaner environment to recover in. Just make sure to dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank.
If your filter's due for a cleaning, now's the time to do it – unless it's less than six weeks old, in which case, leave it be. When cleaning the filter, use a bucket of tank water to wash the media, and then discard the dirty water. This will help keep the filter running smoothly and reduce the amount of gunk in the water.
Adding some salt to the tank may also be beneficial. Use rock salt, sea salt, or swimming pool salt at a dose rate of one heaped tablespoon per 20 liters of water. If you don't see any improvement after 48 hours, you can double the dose rate. Just be sure to keep the salt level consistent for at least two weeks, but no longer than four weeks, as prolonged exposure can cause kidney damage in certain species.
When adding salt, mix it with a small bucket of tank water first, and then slowly pour it into the tank near the filter outlet. This will help minimize stress on your Betta.
Remember to treat any new water with salt before adding it to the tank, and when you're ready to remove the salt, do a series of gradual water changes over the course of a week or two to avoid shocking your fish.
When it comes to addressing health concerns, I always recommend doing a big water change every day for about a week – it's a simple yet effective approach.
Now, let's get into the specifics for your situation.
First, give the inside of the glass a good wipe down with a clean fish sponge. This will remove the biofilm that's accumulated on the glass, which can harbor all sorts of unwanted bacteria, fungus, and protozoans.
Next, do a 75% water change and clean the gravel daily for a week. This will significantly reduce the number of disease-causing organisms in the water, giving your Betta a cleaner environment to recover in. Just make sure to dechlorinate the new water before adding it to the tank.
If your filter's due for a cleaning, now's the time to do it – unless it's less than six weeks old, in which case, leave it be. When cleaning the filter, use a bucket of tank water to wash the media, and then discard the dirty water. This will help keep the filter running smoothly and reduce the amount of gunk in the water.
Adding some salt to the tank may also be beneficial. Use rock salt, sea salt, or swimming pool salt at a dose rate of one heaped tablespoon per 20 liters of water. If you don't see any improvement after 48 hours, you can double the dose rate. Just be sure to keep the salt level consistent for at least two weeks, but no longer than four weeks, as prolonged exposure can cause kidney damage in certain species.
When adding salt, mix it with a small bucket of tank water first, and then slowly pour it into the tank near the filter outlet. This will help minimize stress on your Betta.
Remember to treat any new water with salt before adding it to the tank, and when you're ready to remove the salt, do a series of gradual water changes over the course of a week or two to avoid shocking your fish.