Fin & Tail Rot in Bettas & other Fish; Treatment and Prevention
Carlrs
A
good/often effective "in tank" treatment would be the before mentioned
(for fish baths) Nitrofurazone and Kanamycin combination, especially if
Columnaris or Aeromonas is the cause. The best choice here would be the
already combined/synergistic and thus easier to use AAP Spectrogram,
formulation of pharmaceutical grade Kanamycin & Nitrofurazone.
Product Source:
*AAP Spectrogram (Premium Nitrofurazone/Kanamycin Sulfate Combo)
Another alternative (which can also be used in baths) is Triple Sulfa.
This is an excellent broad spectrum alternative to the Kanamycin/Nitrofurazone combination and although generally not as "strong" a treatment, it is occasionally effective when the Kanamycin/Nitrofurazone combination is ineffective.
As well Triple Sulfa is generally less harsh on the fish and is a good choice for generally less difficult cases of fin rot with Pseudomonas as the bacterial cause. Triple Sulfa can also be combined with ParaGuard to make for a bit stronger and more wide spectrum treatment. Maracyn Plus combines a synergistic blend of Sulfamethazine and Trimethoprim that can be effective when Triple Sulfa or Nitrofurazon/Kanamycin treatments are not effective. However, do not use this product if fish have large wounds or are suffering from septicemia, since Trimethoprim can lower blood platelets.Another sometimes recommended product for fin rot is Tetra Fungus Guard (sometimes in combination with Kanamycin). HOWEVER this can be a dangerous mix as Tetra Fungus Guard contains Potassium Dichromate (a strong oxidizer) which if used for open wounds or blood infection (Septicemia) can be toxic, sometimes leading to eventual death. Often a "tell tale" sign of toxic poisoning is color changes to the fish.
Reference: Aquarium Medications Part 3; Potassium Permanganate & Dichromate
For
Bettas and other smaller long tailed fish such as Guppies, an excellent
preventative and treatment of moderate fin/tail infections as well as
loss of color and listlessness is AAP Bettamax. This
product safely blends pharmaceutical grade Nitrofurazone as well as
three sulfas along with vitamins, Methylene Blue and NaCl.
Product Sources:
*AAP Triple Sulfa Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial for Fish
*AAP Bettamax; Synergistic Blend with Sulfas/Nitrofurazone
*Maracyn Plus from AAP with Sulfamethazine and Trimethoprim