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betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:03 am
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?
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:07 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:35 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 2:55 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:27 pm
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 8:25 pm
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 1:56 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 2:11 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 2:27 am
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.
Re: betta fish and disease recovery
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2025 11:34 am
by stevio
Is the betta alone in the tank? Sometimes tankmates can nip at their fins and make things worse.