please help save my betta

[dgems6]

I got my betta about four days ago. I was keeping him in a 29g community tank with:
-3 mollies
-2 catfish (one african glass, can't remember the other)
-red tail shark
-algea eater
-clown loach

The first three days were great. He was active and everything. All of a sudden, I wake up this morning, and the Bettas fins are shredded?!? What could cause this? The day before he was great! As active as ever. So, I don't think think it could be a disease (wouldn't that be more gradual?). I did extensive research (5+ hours) to see what could go with Bettas. None of those fish were supposed to be fin nippers, and the people at "pet supplies plus" and "Jack's" never said anything about not keeping those fish together. My ammonia level is great, but my Ph was kinda high (is it true you shouldn't put chemicals in the tank to lower it?). I just read a post about somebody's betta biting himself? could this be happening?? I would think he is in a big enough tank (29g). Could Pet Supplies plus have sold me a sick fish? I really want to keep the betta in the community tank, instead of a goldfish bowl by himself like many do. What is the cause? What should I do??

My first course of action was to seperate him, obvisouly. he's now in a fishbowl by himself. I got him some melafix, and freeze dried bloodwarms (I hear they like those). Please help. thanks in advance

 

[420Loach]

mollies get aggressive sometimes but i doubt they could shred a betta. what color is he? does he look like the red tail shark coloration wise? that might cause problems. other then that just keep him seperated for now and pamper him like your doing, and his fins will be new in a few weeks.

 

[Leopardess]

okay.....i've already answered this, but I have a few things to add:

1) Please try not to double post. Most people here will go through all of the forums and new posts, so they will see it.

2) yes, you could have easily been sold a sick fish - it happens all the time. and bettas are very susceptible because of the deplorable conditions they are commonly kept in.

3) fin rot can happen INCREDIBLY fast. One morning my scissortail was fine, that afternoon, half of his dorsal fin had withered away. Diseases are not always gradual.

4) your betta could be crazy and as a result he bites himself, although that usually only happens in small tanks - which yours is not.

5) keep your betta separate until he is fully healed and you are sure that he hasn't gotten any type of secondary infection. Maracyin I and II, or Marycin Plus will help prevent against this, although the Melafix will help. As will salt.

6) Again, I think it may be the shark, however that is just a guess. When the betta is healed, put him back in the community tank - if it happens again, then it is something that is picking on him. Otherwise, it was a bacterial/fungal infection.

7) Add some stress coat to the water to help him keep his body nice an' slimey.


8) Good luck and let us know what happens...

 

[dgems6]

1.) Sorry for the double post. In my "haste" I went to the first forum, because I am a beginner. Later I noticed the specialty forums, and thought that would be a better spot for the post. It won't happen again, as I appreciate everyone's generosity in answering my questions.

2.) Yea, that would suck. Then when I ask them for advice they tell me to put him back in a tea cup. Which is why I"m here.

3.) It was no more than a five hour period that fin rot could have happened. As my sister looked at them at 8:30 a.m., and I looked at him at 1 pm.

5.) I did get melafix, and have given him one dose. Is maracyin the same thing?? I was reading other message boards, and everyone seemed to agree maracyin 2 worked great. As for salt. should I put salt in the little half gallon bowl I have the betta in now?? If so, how much? Can you overdose with the melafix. I may be prone to do this, because I want my fish to recover quickly. Although, I will try to contain myself.

6.) As for the red tail shark. I have never seen them interact at all. the shark stays at the bottom and lighthouse, and the betta mid-top. I hope its not the sharks, as those are my two favorite. That would be close to a fish tragedy to have to seperate those two forever. lol. However, I will take your advice, and keep him isolated until fully healed. Then try him in the community tank again.

7.) Stress coat can just be bought at pet stores?

Thanks again, and if you want next time you reply (leopardess) let me know if you want to just reply on one of my posts, and we'll let the other sink. Or I'm sure a moderator could delete one (but please don't delete it until I say, so you know I have read the most recent advice.)

 

[PreciousGems]

Clown loaches are aggressive too. I think he is the culprit.

 

[Leopardess]

yeah, I looked into that, and realized I was thinking something else - clown loaches can be jerks sometimes. And my petstores keep them in the semi aggressive tanks. It may be him.


I suppose that it is possible to over dose with melafix, but I think more is better (which many, i'm sure, will disagree with).

As for salt, yes add some in. It is important and helps stimulate their slime coats. For a half a gallon bowl, try half a teaspoon of salt.

stress coat can be picked up at walmart or petstores. It is called stress coat and should be easy to find.

Marycin is not the same thing. Marycin II should be used in conjunction with Marcycin I. They are broad spectrum anti biotics. They are like antibiotics whereas Melafix is all natural and is antibacterial. You could get some Marycin Plus and use that along with the melafix to ward off secondary infections that may happen as a result of the tissue damage.

 

[dgems6]

Well, I got some good news!! The melafix worked great. I saw his fins growing back just two days after I started treatment, and saw his activity go up just a day after treatment. However, I went on vacation after day two of treatment. I had my sister and mom look after him, and they say he's doing great. They said his fins grew back to the way they were when we got him, and I may try putting him back in his 29g tank when I get home Saturday. Thanks, everyone, for the help. Hopefully he will be ok in the 29 gallon.

 

[Iggy]

Good news! Enjoy your vacation. Let us know how he fares if you move him back to the 29gal!