Ok so it's my fault - I missed ONE water change & apparently the tank was in a delicate balance because whammo - I have fin rot again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it was really stupid - I can only claim extreme stressed outed ness due to the start of school & some crappy stuff going on. I just zoned it.

I am really distressed. I really don't want to start medicating (although I did start journaling every tank now)

I actually dumped the whole tank in the hopes that it will help. The ### ammonia level won't fall below zero - even with ammo lock & 75% daily water changes! I know that the problem is most likely centered around the ammonia levels (he is really touchy when ammonia level goes above .5 for an extended period).

I posted this in tanks but ...

So now I'm hoping you guys can help with either the fishie or the tank.

My other 2 betta tanks are registering 0 ammonia level.

I'm at a loss as to what's going on.

Any ideas???

Jenn

PS - I REALLY don't want to use Melafix due to some previous experiences but what do you think???? Would bettafix be OK??? Should I just use 2 container s for a few days/week to try to get the ammonia level down around him??????

Jenn - oh no! Is it poor Bubba again? I don't have an answer to this, but one of my betta tanks (Geronimo's) has an ammonia problem. For some reason even though I clean the tanks on the same day, the ammonia rises in his tank when it doesn't in the other four. I really have to stay on top of it. When I first got the bettas and had them in 1 gal bowls, Geronimo got tail rot. I tried Bettafix and he acted like it burned him. When I added it he started darting around the tank like something was chasing him. I checked to make sure I had used the proper amount and that was not the problem. Anyway, I ended up using the Maracyn Two. I used only that as directed and it arrested the tail rot with just one cycle.
Hope this helps. I also learned not the miss a water change - if I even think I'm not going to have time on the due day, I do it early. I still say that my good luck with bettas has been purely the water quality I maintain.

Hmmm - that's the same situation I'm in! I can't figure it out. Why just this tank??? Makes no semse to me. (I'm actually using store bought spring water in the hopes it will help while he is healing becuase my tap water has ammonia in it so I already know for every change I'm adding 0.25 ammonia (It's part of the reason I only use Prime now)

I will no longer use betta/melafix either for those same reasons.

Parts of his fins are starting to look good again & the large split is fusing, but parts look yucky (they are so stringy). I just can't figure out why???

I'm with you - water quality is everything!!!

Thanks!!



Jenn

Good god Jenn!! I don't see you at all,and when I finally do ,it's back to Bubba again!!! :crp How's the spring water working? I've never used it so I have no idea on that. Bubba was probably not completely recovered yet,and that one missed water change just got it flared up again,. UGH!!!!! I don't even know what to say any more about him. Refresh my memory what's he in? 2.5 gal? Does he have filter and heater?

Yup 2.5 mini bow with a mini whisper. No heater so I've been leaving the light on for the majority of the day (I do want him to have some down time so I turn it off for a bit each night).

What I don't get is why the ammonia level rises so rapidly. I mean before I ripped apart the tank (but not the filter) it was over 2.0 & then AFTER an 80% change it was 1.0 - 1.5 still way too high for poor Bubba. I just couldn't get it to budge (less than 8 hours later it was back to 2.0)

I even had ammo lock in there with no effect!

I couldn't deal with it so I ripped apart the tank - washed it all out in hot water & refilled it (except the filter). BUT I have .25 from the tap so starting out I'm in the hole - even with fresh water! SO I thought that I'd try spring water.

The part that is healing looks awesome but there is still a part that looks really ragged. I'm just watching it for any further rot - I REALLY don't want to medicate him because I believe that it's all about the ammonia levels esp because I just can't get a handle on it! (I changed it this AM & I'll test right before bed (in a few minutes) but I'll bet it's back up to 1.0 again. I'm doing at least once if not twice daily water changes at this point but I think for the long run I've got to get this figuered out!!!

The other betta tanks (1 of which is the same setup only with gravel instead of marbles for the tank floor) have reading of 0 ammonia!

Any ideas???



Jenn

(Hey at least the big tank is doing great!!! How're your babies???)

OK - so after daily (or more often) changes - ammonia today is at .25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I consider it a major victory!!!

Now for the toughie - the stupid fin rot is still there in patches BUT there is healing going on on some of the fins (actually looks great in those places). Do I treat - Hang on or???

Help!!!!!!!!!

Jenn

Martinez listed a website on finrot vs. fin loss which i think will be very beneficial for you to look into. Aquamaniacs is a wonderful site with lots of useful information. You won't be steered in the wrong direction.

-Bethany

Sadly - I had already been there (& Bettatalk & the Australian betta site & a web ring ...)- this poor guy has been suffering for quite some time with so many advances & reverses!!!

I know it's fin rot (he also had a fin blow out but that's another story).

His fins are looking better but that one fin...

I'm just not sure.

On the brighter side my girlfriend offered me a used 50 gal tank yesterday!!!

Now if I can figure out where to put it!!!!!



Jenn

Hey Jenn,that's Awesome!!! Throw the darn couch out!!! Make room!!!

Oh Jenn, how horrible.
Have you been able to find the Jungle Labs Fungus Eliminator? I thought someone said that may do the trick.
Just a thought, you know I am at a loss as to how to help you.

Congrats on the new tank though, the hubby has to think that is good.

Thanks Sharon!!! (I think the hubby might object though)

Laurie - I'm not sure that medicating the whole tank is the answer - I'm conflicted at present the fin that looked so bad before is healing very nicely! The fin with the blowout is also healing well. It's the third fin that just looks stringy & I can't see any new growth. I could only find the tablets & I can't see trying to break them into 5 pieces. I'm not sure they would work correctly if crushed( because they're supposed to fizz the meds into the water)

I'm getting to the point where I hate medicating the entire tank & it's really weird I mean why is only part not healing????

Sigh...it's really strange. (But hey it fits my current karma - no??)

My husband said if I can rearrange the furniture then I can tell her I 'll take the tank (it'll take alot of doing but I think I can make it work. - I'm so excited. I just tried to call her & she's not home! I hate waiting! ) (She said it even comes with a custom stand). Hmmm now what to put in it?????

Choices choices choices



Jenn

bettafix? mm neve rhear dof that do you mean bettamax?well Ive never saved a betta from fin rot so I cant give any advice sorry..I would add aquarium salt and heat it to 77 degrees

Bettafix has the same stuff in it as melafix only at a much lower concentration. I think that bettamax is an antibiotic.

I haven't yet tried salt as members here have said that bettas aren't tolerant of it.

I'm up for any suggestions though!

Jenn

Jenn - I was sure hoping Bubba would be much better by now. Sorry. You must surely be excited about that new tank! Did you get it yet? I'm with Sharon, throw out the couch (the only thing that's sacred is Hubby's fave chair, hehehe). I can picture you at the lfs gathering your new fishies

Not yet - she hasn't called me back (although sometimes she works all week & then works a weekend too so no surprises there). It's hard to wait though!!!!

Parts of Bubba look so much better!!! Just a bit of his fin looks like...well like it's got rot.

Sigh, I'm still going with 25% daily water changes - I'm hoping it will go away. The rest of his fins are healing nicely. That fin has stabilized but I don't see any new growth at all & it's a bit red/angry looking. Sigh...

Oh I can't wait for that tank now! I'm really excited about it!!!

Jenn

Jenn, I'm so excited for you. A new tank!!!!!!! Yippeee.
As for Bubba, I'm so at a loss. And your Karma, seems to be yes a part of life right now. You with Bubba me with Sapphire.

I do hope you can get it under control. What an accomplishment when you finally do!!!!

Ah HA! I just found our why she hasn't yet called me back - a mutual friend just called & said she knew she would give me the tank if I wanted it but my friend has been really busy with her brand new just rescued PUPPY! Hee hee!

I'll keep you posted!

Jenn

And here I thought that the 50 gal. would be up and running!!! Jenn,you may want to purchase your filter(if your friend doesn't have one for it) so that you can start seeding it while your'e waiting-Although you did pretty good on that "cycling 101".Heck,I'm as excited about it as you probably are!!! I can't wait!!! Wondering what is getting added to the "All You can eat Breakfast Menu" Keep us posted. 2 more nites,and I'll be off a week-can't wait to talk to everyone!!!!

Sharon that is a wonderful idea about buying the filter and begin running it. I'll have to remember that.

Jenn,
Yes do tell what are you aspiring to put in that big beautiful tank??? GF???? And I'm getting hungry, thanks to the mention of breakfast foods.

Oh I just don't know!!!!!!!!!!!! (I saw my friend at school today & told her I did want the tank & she said how about the other 2 10 gal ones??? ha ha ha - I KNOW I can't get those past my husband yet.....)

(It was funny she brought her puppy in to the school office & he pooped on the floor - we had everyone in there cleaning it up - Oh Boy the smell! But a very cute pup with enormous paws - he's gonna be a big one!!!)

Anyway back to fish - I'm sooooooooo torn. It would be big enough to get that big oranda Ive been eyeing up (OK so there is more than 1 that I've had my eye on) but then there are those pearlscales and celestials (hmmm maybe a telescope???) I could move the goldies in there & then have the other tank as a tropical.....

Aack! What to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Although it's a problem I like!)

I've been toying with the idea of getting the other filter running now (or at least starting my smaller one so I can at least move the media)

Hee hee

Jenn