The key to dealing with betta fish diseases is being prepared at all times, because whether you like or not, you will encounter one or two fish with a disease if you are into betta keeping or the fish hobby in general. One of the betta fish diseases that are dreaded by most betta enthusiasts is fin rot. It is characterized by the shortening of the fins of the betta as a result of bacterial infection. While the said disease can practically be cured, some severe cases of it can lead to the death of your fish especially when not treated immediately. Fortunately, fin rot among bettas can be cured and prevented.
Fin rot is mainly caused by dirty water. If you perform regular water changes, there will be no chance that your fish is ever going to get it. Therefore, in case your betta does acquire fin rot, the first thing you should do is to perform a FULL water change. This is very critical because if you only change a part of your betta’s water, some of the bacteria will still be present in the remaining water in the tank.
Before you put your betta back into the tank, add a few drops of fungus eliminator or other broad spectrum fish medication into the water. Depending on the size of your tank, you should perform FULL water changes every 3 days, adding the same dose of medication. Continue treating your betta this way until the rot stops and you see some tissues beginning to grow back. If you keep your betta’s water pristine at all times, the rot will stop within a week but it would take longer for the fins to return to its original length. However, you should never expect the new fins to be as beautiful as the old one.
To prevent your betta from every acquiring fin rot, you should do what most betta hobbyist do not find time doing – DAILY FULL WATER CHANGES. This is very critical especially for long-finned bettas like halfmoons and crowntails who have fins that are very sensitive to changes in water paremeters. Some betta experts do not agree with this concept claiming that the practice would stress the fish and shorten its life expectancy. However, there are also some who can testify to the effectiveness of this method, not only in warding off fin rot but also in giving betta fish the long and satisfying life that they deserve.
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The Author is a self-proclaimed betta addict. If you want to know more about bettas and how to care for them, feel free to visit these sites: http://www.squidoo.com/betta-addiction-betta-diseases Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_James_Estante |
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