Something's off with my betta. Had fin rot before, but only on pectoral fins. Don't think I saw this yesterday, but I was feeding him so maybe I missed it. He's got a bad habit of sleeping behind the filter, near the heater. I used a cut-off filter as a flow guard, but I don't think it's a burn since it's not in the right spot.
What type of betta is this, anyway? I'm not super into them, but I think they're classified by tail type? I've got ghost shrimp in the tank, so I'm not sure how to treat this. Can I use a paraguard dip for a bit, or does the betta need to be quarantined?
Is fin rot the problem?
Re: Is fin rot the problem?
Can you tell me more about the tank, like its size? Was the nitrogen cycle and tank cycling process something you were aware of before putting your betta in? What are your current water parameters looking like?
I'd recommend getting some aquarium salt and following the instructions on the packaging for the right dosage. Just a heads up, make sure to dissolve the salt first before adding it to the tank - you don't want it to harm your betta. I'm pretty sure it's safe for the ghost shrimp, but someone with more experience might be able to give you a better answer on that.
As for your betta's type, he seems like a halfmoon to me, although the photos don't give a super clear view.
I'd recommend getting some aquarium salt and following the instructions on the packaging for the right dosage. Just a heads up, make sure to dissolve the salt first before adding it to the tank - you don't want it to harm your betta. I'm pretty sure it's safe for the ghost shrimp, but someone with more experience might be able to give you a better answer on that.
As for your betta's type, he seems like a halfmoon to me, although the photos don't give a super clear view.
Re: Is fin rot the problem?
I'm relieved the issue is resolved. I've been up late after lights out, observing my tank, and I finally figured out what was going on. My betta was in his usual sleeping trance, and as I shone my torchlight into the tank, I caught a ghost shrimp swimming off of him. It turns out they've been picking at his fins as he sleeps, climbing up the heater or prefilter sponge to get to him. I've removed all the ghost shrimp and they're now being used as treats for my cichlids. Some of them are quite large, about an inch and a half to 2 inches, but they appear to be legitimate ghost shrimp - same-sized claw arms as legs, and most have red tail dots or red bands on their antennae. I have to admit, I was shocked to discover this. Now I'm wondering, would cherry shrimp exhibit the same behavior?