Fin rot is a common symptom of bacterial disease that can attack a variety of fish, from betta fish to ornamental goldfish. This disease is often caused by dirty aquarium conditions, poor quality of care, or exposure to other fish with infectious diseases. Fish that have fin rot will have fins that look torn or tattered as if rotting. Fin rot can also cause fish to become discolored and lethargic. If not treated properly, fin rot can cause permanent damage to the fins and can be fatal. Fin rot is highly contagious and fish experiencing this problem should be quarantined immediately to avoid infecting other fish in the tank.
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Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Aquarium
Step 1. Remove the affected fish from the aquarium
Start by transferring the fish with fin rot to another tank filled with clean, chlorine-free water.
You should also transfer other fish from the main tank to a separate tank filled with clean, non-chlorinated water. Do not use the nets you use to move sick fish because fin rot can be transmitted by contact with the same nets. Do not place sick fish in the same tank as other healthy fish to prevent the spread of disease
Step 2. Clean the aquarium and all accessories
You must empty the aquarium water in the sink. Don't forget to remove all accessories and gravel from the tank.
- Wash the aquarium thoroughly with hot water. Do not use soap to clean the aquarium. Just use a paper towel to clean the crevices and make sure the whole tank is really clean.
- Soak the accessory in hot water for 5-10 minutes. If you have live plants, soak them in warm water. After that remove it from the water and let it dry by itself.
- Wash the gravel in warm water and use a small vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and debris.
Step 3. Change all the water
After thoroughly washing the tank and drying it, you can rearrange the gravel and other accessories in the tank. If the aquarium has not been cycled, do a 100% water change using water that has been added to water conditioner and is free of chlorine. Make sure the water temperature is between 26-27 °C.
- If the tank has been cycling, meaning that there is an adequate amount of good bacteria growing on the submerged surface (most of which accumulates through fish living in the tank and excreting nitrogen), you can do a 50% water change. Henceforth, it is recommended to replace the water with a smaller proportion.
- If the aquarium has a filter, you will need to fill the bucket with clean water from the aquarium and wash the filter with that water. Once the filter is free of any debris, you can put it back in the aquarium. Do not use tap water to clean the filter as it can contaminate it.
Step 4. Check the pH of the water in the aquarium
Before putting fish back into the tank, you should use a pH test kit to make sure the water quality is safe for the fish. The pH should be in the 7-8 range, while the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels should not exceed 40 ppm.
Once you're sure that the aquarium water is safe for your fish, you can slowly introduce fish back into the tank, including those with fin rot. You can then add an antibiotic or antifungal to the water to help kill the bacteria that causes fin rot. Clean aquarium conditions plus medication can help heal the fish
Part 2 of 3: Using Medicines and Herbal Treatments
Step 1. Use an antibacterial treatment to treat the problem of fin rot
If the disease doesn't go away within a few days of cleaning and processing the tank, try using an antibacterial treatment for fin rot. You can buy them without a prescription at your local pet store. Buy a fin rot remedy that is specially formulated for the type of fish, such as a fin rot remedy for betta fish or ornamental goldfish. Follow the directions for use listed on the label.
- These medications often contain antibiotics to kill fungal infections, such as erythromycin, minocycline, trimethoprim and sulfadimidine. Make sure the fin rot treatment does not contain organic dyes as they can be toxic to some types of fish.
- Popular fin rot treatments include Jungle Fungus Eliminator and tetracycline. You can also use brands like Maracyn, Maracyn II, Waterlife-Myxazin, and MelaFix.
Step 2. Try tea tree oil and salt
If you want to avoid commercial drugs, try using tea tree oil and salt. However, treatment with tea tree oil is considered unreliable and should be used as a disease prevention, not a cure. You should use an antibacterial or antibiotic medication to support your treatment with tea tree oil.
- Add 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to the tank to keep the water clean and sterile. Make sure the fish doesn't react negatively to the tea tree oil before you add a few extra drops the next day.
- Tonic salt, or sodium chloride, can be used to prevent fin blight. Add 30 grams of salt for every 4 liters of water. Use tonic salt only for freshwater fish that can tolerate salt.
Step 3. Use an air pump or an aeration stone when introducing medication into the aquarium
When administering medicine to sick fish, you must supply more oxygen to the water so that the fish can breathe properly. Medications tend to reduce oxygen levels in the water, so you'll need to provide extra supplies to keep your fish healthy. Place an air pump, aeration stone, or other device in the tank to inject more oxygen into the water.
- If you have a betta fish, set the air pump to a low setting so it doesn't create a strong current that can stress the fish.
- You must use the medicine for the duration specified on the package label. Medications can stress fish and should only be used when necessary.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Fin Rot
Step 1. Keep the aquarium clean and change the water once a week
A clean aquarium allows the fish to recover properly from fin rot and prevents the development of the same disease in the future. Make it a habit to clean the aquarium regularly.
- If the tank has a 4 liter capacity, you will need to change the water every 3 days. For a 10 liter tank, try to change the water every 4-5 days and for a 20 liter tank, do it every 7 days.
- If your tank hasn't been cycling yet, you'll need to change the water 100% every time you clean the tank. Don't forget to wash all the accessories, including the gravel.
- Add aquarium salt to the water after you clean the tank to keep the water healthy and make sure the water has a pH that will make the fish comfortable.
Step 2. Make sure the aquarium is not overcrowded
It may be tempting to add a lot of fish to your tank, but an overcrowded tank can cause high stress levels and increase the risk of disease in your fish. Make sure the fish are compatible with each other and have plenty of room to swim and interact in a healthy way.
- If you start to notice several fish nibbling at each other, it could be a sign that the tank is overcrowded. You may have to remove some fish from the tank or isolate fish that are behaving aggressively towards other fish.
- Some fish are known to bite their fins, such as the Sumatran ornamental fish, the serpae tetra, and the black widow tetra. Angelfish and catfish can also bite the fins of other fish, as can pufferfish and target fish. If you keep this type of fish in an aquarium, pay attention to the fish's behavior and keep it separate from fish that are more vulnerable to attack, such as guppies.
Step 3. Provide good quality food for fish
Try to provide a variety of high-quality foods and stick to a consistent eating schedule. Feeding too much or too little can weaken the fish's immune system and put it at greater risk of disease.
