Deteriorating fins

[Sydney]

Lately I've noticed that most of my fish, which includes a couple Molly's, barbs, 1 guppy and a platy, are having problems with there fins. I've had 2 guppies die from what I thought was fin rot so I treated my 10g tank with a fungus guard I got at petsmart.

I've treated the tank prior to that 1 because a dwarf gourami I brought home had fungus which I'm positive he already had. I'm starting to doubt the fact that my tank has a bacterial infection considering the number of times I've medicated it. So I'm wondering if perhaps the pH level of the water could potentially be affecting the fins of my fish, or any other water levels.

Please let me know if there's something I'm doing wrong, or should be checking, thanks.





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[weedkiller]

see if there is one in particular that is nipping fins first off otherwise treat with fin rot or similar if you are sure that is what it is

[Sydney]

I know fin nipping isnt the problem. And I'm not 100% sure if it's fin rot, but I've treated the tank for bacterial infections previous. That's why I'm wondering if it's the water. All fish are showing slight signs of it. It's becoming very stressful!


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[emc7]

low pH, say <6 or high ammonia can indeed erode fins as can bacterial and other "fin rot" infections. Take water changing to the next level, ramp up both the amount and frequency and see if things improve. Water changes fix the water quality, dilute pathogens and provide trace nutrients so they can often help without identifying the specific problem.

[lohachata]

instead of treating with fungus guard ; treat the finrot with " Mela Fix "....i have had much greater success with it..

[Sydney]

Thanks guys, I'll try it all out


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[Betta man]

I consider melafix to be snake oil. It has never really worked with me. I'd use methylene blue.

[lohachata]

kid...until you actually are able to prove something , i would suggest you just not open your mouth...10s of thousands of people have had great success with this product...the extremely limited experience of a 14 year old juvenile with a couple of bettas that used it incorrectly does not make it a snake oil..

[Betta man]

Originally Posted by lohachata kid...until you actually are able to prove something , i would suggest you just not open your mouth...10s of thousands of people have had great success with this product...the extremely limited experience of a 14 year old juvenile with a couple of bettas that used it incorrectly does not make it a snake oil..

I have spoken with others who say it doesn't work. And I am not 14. Just because I think it's snake oil doesn't make it snake oil. It not working makes it snake oil.

[Angelclown]

Betta man: melafix is NOT snake oil. It is oil based. Read the controversy and dangers on this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melafix

If you are not 14 then how old are you, 5? LOL

[Vayurules]

I'm nearly 14. I know that its not a snake oil. Lets not go ripping on 14 year olds here.


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[Angelclown]

Vayu: we are not ripping on all 14 year olds. Just Betta man, because he thinks that melafix is snake oil. I just put a link up that verifies that melafix is not snake oil. One of these days someone is going to read Betta man's post and go by it and then their fish are going to die. Betta man needs to verify what he says, back up what he says with proof.

[emc7]

I don't blame betta keepers for avoiding mela-fix as it is an oil. Methylene blue is also a mild anti-biotic and anti-fungal. Either could help if it is a mild infection. Clean water is good medicine also. Check hardness as well as pH if you get a chance. IME, it is soft, acid water that eats fins.

[Betta man]

I have used it and it did almost nothing. Actually, it did nothing at all. As much as I treated the fish and gave it clean water, the fin rot kept going. With methylene blue, I did a bath and the fin rot went away. Methylene blue is the best med for finrot IMO. It kills fin rot and prevents fungus which is a side effect of having stressed or sick fish. I should have amputated the sick fish's fins, but I knew little back then. I prefer not to give away my age online except to people my age or those who I am likely to meet, but you can feel free to guess.

[Vayurules]

Lol, for the sake of fun, 20 something.


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