Bruiser is in a 2.5 gal minibow that came with a whisper mini. The whole filter is in the tank, and I like it because there isn't much current. But now he's hiding out behind the filter! He's already got finrot that I've been dealing with since I've had him. He came out from behind it last night and he's got a huge chunk of his tail missing now! Almost up to his body! So now what do I do?
I keep all their tanks clean, suction out food and poop about every other day or so along with weekly water changes. So their water is always clean. Yet I can't seem to get rid of the finrot, and now this. And I just finished a round of Maracyn2 for his finrot and it didn't do a thing!
Meanwhile Sunny, the one that liked to hang out by the filter intake tube. He's now got a big chunk out of his dorsal fin where there was a small hole, along with damage to his tail form the filter. His fins look very red and angry.
So, I think I'm going to try the stocking over Bruiser's whole filter and see how that goes. But any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. But as far as helping them heal, I'm lost. Their water qualities are already good, I don't know what else to do.
All 3 tanks are 0 for ammonia and nitrite. Ph is 7.6. I still don't have a nitrate kit.
Getting quite frustrated. And with all the finrot and other diseses everyone else is dealing with.... There's got to be something we're all doing wrong
Thanks guys, Erin

After looking it up online, it's not the filter that did this to Bruiser as I thought. I don't think the intake for it is even in the back where I thought it was. I'll have to take it out tomorrow and see where it is. If this is the rot that's eaten that huge chunk in not even a day, that's scary! And it's just about to his body in that spot, so what do I do about it? As I said, he just finished a course of Maracyn2, and it obviously didn't do anything.
Thanks again, Erin

Just a little update;

The intake on this filter is on the bottom, so I know this isn't the prob. I'm starting to lean towards tail biting, though I only caught him once and that was a while back. Even with salt dips I was doing, he'd show some regrowth, but then it was gone, only in spots.

I've read that some bettas are more prone to do this when they are in constant contact with others. Bruiser has a neighboring 5 gal minibow with another betta, Ice in it. I think part of the problem is that Bruiser is so aggressive. When I go to the tank, he zig zags and "bites" at the front of the tank. He's always flaring at Ice wheather he's paying attention or not. He patrols constantly and attacks his food violently, but I always just attributed this to his "bettatude". But I think I should try to do something about it. I'm going to keep something in between the 2 tanks for while and see if it helps. Any other suggestions?

Thanks, Erin

Erin,between you and Jenn,I don't know what to tell you anymore!!!! I have one of those whispers on a 2.5 bow. I have never liked that thing for some reason,and plan on changing it one day to a penn plax small wonder filters. I like those the best on the under 5 gal. tanks. I'd definately try to block those guys---can't hurt,right? I'd do a nice water change,and leave the salt and the meds alone for a while-and then block those two. Sorry I'm not more help--I've always been able to keep those things in control some how....I still swear heaters helped save some of my betta friends from extreme rot.Maybe it's coincidental,I don't know. I do know that when two different bettas that I had started getting a little fin rot.I changed their water out,and added a heater,and that was that. Maybe "cold" betta's make for "Vulnerable" betta's.

Makes sense though. Cold stresses them, which leads to probs. I've been keeping their lights on to help keep them warmer since they don't have heaters. But the constant light is probably causing some stress also. Either way I'm not getting ahead!

For Sunny, he's looking better. He's got a hole in the middle of his anal fin, but his other fins are healing nicely. It's odd with him because the holes he gets aren't actual holes. The fin membrane(?) seems to disintegrate, but the rays are in tack. I guess it has something to do with his filter. He's the one who liked to hang out by the intake tube. Slowly he's looking better. Still, some redness has shown up again on his fins.

Ice is the guy that I haven't mentioned much. His rot never got as bad as the others. He's also healing nicely, but since I stopped the salt baths, some redness has come back on his fins.

Bruiser is just a whole other story. Ice has got to be the most melow betta going. And Bruiser really thinks he's scaring him, Ice couldn't care! I hope blocking his veiw will help him. For crying out loud, I forget what his fins look like all grown out and healthy!

I've stopped doing the salt baths, as I said. I think and hope I've killed the bacteria on them that was causing it. Looks that way anyway, as all but Bruiser are healing now. But the redness that is still on the others bothers me. I'll give a few weeks of nice clean waters and see how it goes. I need to get them all heaters. And I need to get descent tanks for my newest boys. I'm going to start setting aside some fundage for all that. Just need to figure something out for the mean time.

Still any other options are great!
Erin

I had a betta die because of fin rot. my current betta is fine. Good luck!

What do you have your newest boys in now??? I hate to admit it,but I just got two more mini bows off of e-bay a couple weeks ago..I bid on two different ones and somehow ended up winning them both! I couldn't resist though-final; cost foran eclipse eas 9.95,and the 2,5 gal bow,I got for I think it was 6.88 or 6.98? I mean really,did you buy yours new??? So,how could I resist the temptation? Even with shipping -what a deal!!! All my tanks for the betta have come from e-bay......I gotta quit watching those fishy auctions......

Good god! Great deal, Sharon! I need to watch Ebay more!

One of my 5 gal. I'm actually borrowing from a friend, so that one's not mine. My other 5 gal I think was about $35 at Petco. The 2.5 I'm not sure, it was a birthday present. I haven't looked up the price yet. All are the minibow, I just like that tank be it 2.5 or 5 gal.

I will definately look on there, see what they have. Yeah, even with shipping, you got a great deal!

My new boys are very temporarally in in the 1 gal tanks of crap I origionally had my first bettas in. I'm sorry, that was not fair. People may have alot of experience with these and have good experiences with them, but not me. Don't know what it is, I just couldn't manage them. So, ASAP I'm getting these boys into filtered tanks. These did come with an undergravel filter, but I just don't like them. Just my opinion of them. And funny, I don't even remember the brand! Probably better that way! B)

No, no. You need to to KEEP watching those auctions! With those prices you can get all the time! I'd have them everywhere if that were the case! in every room !!!!!
Erin

Oh poo! I was hoping you were having more success than me with those salt baths!!!!!

What is up with the fin rot these days?????

I'm hoping for a cure but really....I just want to be able to do even every other day water changes on my betta tanks (Ahhhhh.....wouldn't that be nice). Whenever I even think about missing a day...WHAMMO!

Right now Bubba is doin' better, Pat's about the same & Pancake still has those nasty red areas on the edges of his fins - looks like drops of blood (which neither of the other 2 have ever had).

I my mini bows! (I'm working on that fish in every room thing - but I know I'm waaaaaay behind Sharon!!
Jenn

There you are, Jen! I was wondering about and you and your boys.

Good to hear Bubba's looking better. Yeah, what is it with these red spots? When I stopped doing the salt dips, they came back! I can still see some new tissue though, so I'm a little happier. I just got them heaters too, so I'm hoping that helps.

Erin