Craigslist Betta

[Barbgirl]

Good evenin everyone!

So I found this guy for free on craigslist. Pretty excited. First time owning a betta! I've owned tons of tanks and yet to have a betta so figured it was time. Plus didn't really want him going to anyone who will keep him in that teeny tank without a heater. Trust me it's cold up here >_>


I've done a bunch of reading, I known general care for these guys. But to get to the point I'm kinda worried about his fins. What's going on with them?

I haven't picked him up yet but would like to know what I getting into.

Thanks in advance!




Tanks he has been housed in but no longer!

[SpecGrrl]

Congratulations!

Best info for betta keeping is over on bettafish.com, the stickies by OldFishLady and Sakura8.

OFL is a genius, and has decades of experience. She has Alice sticky in natural planted tanks, too!

[wendyjo]

Looks like a bit of fin rot - clean water should take care of it.

[AquaPipes]

Yup, that's fin rot. Melafix or Bettafix will help cure it, and despite the rumors, if dosed correctly Melafix/Bettafix will not harm their labyrinth organ.

[Barbgirl]

Thanks for the info!!

The betta site suggests 1tsp of aquarium salt per gallon and daily water changes for 10 days. That salt won't bother my moss right?

[wendyjo]

I'd just give good clean water a try first and see if that clears it up. It doesn't look too bad so I see no reason to add anything to the tank at this point. Once you get him home and set up do regular water changes and just keep an eye on it.

[Barbgirl]

Got him today!!

And he's in a bit worse shape than I was expecting.

I am planning on doing daily almost 100% water changes for about 10 days just hopefully to stop the rot and begin healing.

I originally was planning to put him my 2.5 moss tank but I'm worried about if the salt will bother the moss.


So new plan is to keep him the half gallon he came with for the next 10 days and hopefully with daily wc and keeping him warm he'll turn around. Think he will be okay in the .5 gallon for short term?

[secuono]

Fins don't look that bad, maybe a little ammonia burn and a little tattered. But with just clean, warm water, he will heal fine.

So if you want to put him in the moss tank now, it's fine. He shouldn't need anything other than clean water.

How worse for ware is he in reality?

[Hmoobthor]

i like to use stress coat to heal the fin....has work for me when my betta fin got tear up...

that fin rot looks bad...try to use prime to help heal it if u don't have stress coat

[mitchfish9]

Wouldnt almost 100% water changes be a little stressful for him? How about 50% a day?

[oscarsx]

Originally Posted by mitchfish9

Wouldnt almost 100% water changes be a little stressful for him? How about 50% a day?

The more water changes for a fish the better.

Clean water > any medication

- oz

[ony]

Originally Posted by oscarsx

The more water changes for a fish the better.

Clean water > any medication

- oz

I'm all for water changes and I think we reach for meds way too quickly but in a filtered tank anything more than 50% in a single change is a very bad idea.

[Amandas tank]

He's beautiful! You will love him once you nurse him back to health.

[Barbgirl]

Thanks Amanda!! nothing compared to that doberman of yours! I have always wanted a dobie.

For the water changes he will be in a non filtered half gallon for tens days so that's why the changes are so larger

[Amandas tank]

Thank you I can tell ya one thing...dobies are crazy hyper until they reach 4 or so. My guy is still a ball of energy and he's almost 5! Great dogs though.