betta fish and disease recovery

The sub forum dedicated to one of the most incredible fish in our hobby. Betta ask your questions in here!
User avatar
VeteranBreeder
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2022 11:04 pm

betta fish and disease recovery

Post by VeteranBreeder »

My betta's been acting sluggish and has some fin rot. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Temp's at 78F. Tried aquarium salt but no improvement. What else can I do?
User avatar
Rusty
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:03 am

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by Rusty »

Fin rot can be stubborn. You might wanna bump the temp to 80F, it'll help their immune system. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Daily 20% changes with salt can speed things up.
tommix
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 05, 2023 2:23 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by tommix »

Yeah, temp boost is key. And if salt isn't cutting it, maybe try kanaplex. It's worked for me when things get sketchy. Just be careful with the dosage.
User avatar
Koralin
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:18 am

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by Koralin »

Rusty wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:07 am Fin rot can be stubborn. You might wanna bump the temp to 80F, it'll help their immune system. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Daily 20% changes with salt can speed things up.
Totally agree on the water changes. And keep an eye on their appetite. If they're not eating, that's a bad sign.
sailorby
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:20 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by sailorby »

I've had success with Indian almond leaves. They've got natural antibacterial properties and can help soothe the fish. Just toss one in and let it steep.
User avatar
Nuvolix
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2022 4:46 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by Nuvolix »

How long has the fin rot been going on? If it's been more than a week, you might need to escalate to antibiotics. Maracyn Two is another option if kanaplex doesn't work.
User avatar
VeteranBreeder
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2022 11:04 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by VeteranBreeder »

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna try the temp bump and daily water changes first. If that doesn't help, I'll look into the meds.
boxreef
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Oct 13, 2024 5:19 am

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by boxreef »

Don't forget to check the filter flow too. If it's too strong, it can stress them out and make recovery harder. Bettas like it chill.
dawnia
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:45 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by dawnia »

sailorby wrote: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:27 pm I've had success with Indian almond leaves. They've got natural antibacterial properties and can help soothe the fish. Just toss one in and let it steep.
Yep, almond leaves are magic. Also, make sure the tank's not too bright. Low light can help them relax.
User avatar
stevio
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2024 11:19 pm

Re: betta fish and disease recovery

Post by stevio »

Is the betta alone in the tank? Sometimes tankmates can nip at their fins and make things worse.
Post Reply