Help with betta's fin rot, popeye, and loss of appetite

[dorvina]

I'm at my wit's end with my poor fin_tank Kiko. He's been battling fin rot since December 22nd, and despite my best efforts, it just doesn't seem to be getting any better. I initially treated him with Esha 2000, but that didn't make a difference, so I stopped and did a 100% water change before switching to King British fin rot treatment. The only time he'd eat was when I isolated him in a bowl and fed him directly, which worked for three days, and he even seemed a bit more energetic on Christmas Day.

However, his fin rot still looks pretty rough, and he's started deteriorating again. He's just sitting at the bottom of the tank, not eating, and I'm getting really worried. I've been keeping the water pristine with bi-daily changes, and we've even upgraded his tank to a 21L one with plants and all the bells and whistles, but nothing seems to be working. I've bought some Waterlife Myaxin, and I'm considering stopping the current treatment and giving this a go.

To be honest, I'm starting to think he might be depressed or in shock from all the water changes and the stress of being fed in a separate bowl. I've also noticed that one of his eyes is bulging slightly, and I couldn't see the pupil yesterday, which is a bit alarming. I'm not sure if it's a cataract or popeye, but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice. I'm thinking of giving him a 48-hour break from the current medication before starting the Myaxin.

I've included all the details about his tank and care below, so hopefully, that'll be helpful. I'd really appreciate any guidance on how to get him back on track.

Housing:
Tank size: 21L (newly upgraded from 12L)
Filter: Yes
Heater: Yes
Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius
Aeration: No
Tank mates: No

Food:
Brand: North Fin Betta Bits
Feeding schedule: Twice a day (3 pellets each time)
Previous food: Combination of North Fin Betta Bits and temperate flakes (stopped due to nutritional concerns)

Maintenance:
Previous water change frequency: Every two weeks
Water change percentage: 25%
Water source: Tap
Substrate maintenance: Vacuum
Additives: Seachem Prime conditioner

Water Parameters:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 40
pH: 7.6
Hardness (GH): Not tested
Alkalinity (KH): Not tested

Symptoms and Treatment:
Symptom onset: 2 weeks ago
Appearance changes: Ragged fins and weight loss
Behavior changes: Not eating, sitting at the bottom, and labored breathing
Eating habits: Only eats if food is placed near his mouth
Treatment history: Esha 2000, King British fin rot treatment, and considering Waterlife Myaxin
Previous illnesses: Fin rot after initial tank setup (due to poor advice from the pet store)
Ownership duration: 1 year and 4 months
Initial health: Healthy upon purchase

[coltin]

I've been doing some research and I think it's worth considering that Kiko might have a fluxeon scale issue, where scales grow over his eyes. I've noticed the bulging eye and it could be related to this.

As for his weight loss, I'm starting to think it might be due to the lack of variety in his diet. I've already ordered some gel brine shrimps, but I'm thinking of adding more variety to his meals, like daphnia, bloodworm, or prawn. Maybe that'll help him regain some weight.

I've been thinking of stopping the chemical treatments and focusing on more natural methods. Someone mentioned that big daily water changes and salt could be the way to go for fin rot. I'm considering adding 1-2 heaped tablespoons of rock salt for every 20 litres of water. It's recommended to keep the salt in the water for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks. I'd make sure to add salt to the new water before adding it to the tank, so the salinity level remains constant.

[sSjey]

I've had my betta for a year and four months now. Looking at the photos, it's a bit hard to tell if it's a fluxeon scale issue, but I've had him for a while so it's possible. I've had a betta with fluxeon scale before, and he developed scaling over his eyes but still lived a good life. I made sure to put his food in the same spot every time and kept the decor consistent, even when cleaning.

I've attached a photo of my previous betta for comparison.

By the way, that stripey plant you have looks like a dracaena - not exactly an aquatic plant, but I'm sure the shop told you it was fine for your aquarium.

[coltin]

I've had Kiko for a year and four months now. I've been doing some more research and reading through the advice you've given me. I'm still concerned about his eyes, and I'm not sure if it's a fluxeon scale or something else. I'm going to take your advice and try feeding him more variety of foods, including brine shrimp, which I've already ordered. I've also stopped adding chemicals, and I'm going to start doing big daily water changes with salt. I'll use 1-2 heaped tablespoons of rock salt for every 20 litres of water.

[dorvina]

I've been doing some research and I think it's worth considering that Kiko might have a fluxeon scale issue, where scales grow over his eyes. I've noticed the bulging eye and it could be related to this.

As for his weight loss, I'm starting to think it might be due to the lack of variety in his diet. I've already ordered some gel brine shrimps, but I'm thinking of adding more variety to his meals, like daphnia, bloodworm, or prawn. Maybe that'll help him regain some weight.

I've been thinking of stopping the chemical treatments and focusing on more natural methods. Someone mentioned that big daily water changes and salt could be the way to go for fin rot. I'm considering adding 1-2 heaped tablespoons of rock salt for every 20 litres of water. It's recommended to keep the salt in the water for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks. I'd make sure to add salt to the new water before adding it to the tank, so the salinity level remains constant.

Thanks for the advice, Colin. I did try aquarium salt initially, but unfortunately, it didn't make a difference with the fin rot. I've been doing some research and looking at photos, and I think it's possible Kiko might be a fluxeonscale betta. As for his weight loss, I think it's mainly due to him not eating properly - he stopped eating for three days and I had to resort to feeding him in a separate bowl. Now, he's not eating at all unless food lands right next to him and he can pick it up easily. I'm really hoping Myaxin will be the solution, as I've tried a few other treatments already.

[dorvina]

I've had my betta for a year and four months now. Looking at the photos, it's a bit hard to tell if it's a fluxeon scale issue, but I've had him for a while so it's possible. I've had a betta with fluxeon scale before, and he developed scaling over his eyes but still lived a good life. I made sure to put his food in the same spot every time and kept the decor consistent, even when cleaning.

I've attached a photo of my previous betta for comparison.

By the way, that stripey plant you have looks like a dracaena - not exactly an aquatic plant, but I'm sure the shop told you it was fine for your aquarium.

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm really grateful for your input. We've had Kiko for a year and four months now, and I was wondering if that's considered old for a betta? I mean, if he was a few months old when we got him, he's almost two now, isn't he? I'm not sure if that's a factor in his current state, but I thought it was worth mentioning. By the way, thanks for letting me know about the plant - I'll have to look into replacing it again.

[sSjey]

I think he's at an age where the scaling could have started if he is indeed a fluxeonscale - I didn't catch the part about how long you'd had him in your initial post, sorry about that.

It's possible that his age could be a factor, but bettas do seem to have relatively short lives nowadays. I'm no expert on diseases, but I think it's worth trying out Colin's suggestions to see if they make a difference.