Betta care / setting up hosptial tank

Question
Hi, Karen.  

I've written before about my betta who has fin rot.  He's had a mild case through the winter that I've been able to manage with water changes (20% almost daily), salt and warm temps (81 - 82). He seems to improve for a period and then is stressed by something and has a relapse.

I have a hospital tank set up ready to go - 3.5 gal with filter and heater - in order to give him Maracyn I and II.  Problem is that the heater does not raise the temperature of his small tank as high as his home tank.  Question:  Will putting him in a cooler tank stress him out so as to nullify the benefits of medicating him? Earlier in the winter when I tried to lower the temp and reduce the salt of his home tank his fin rot returned / progressed.  I think he can probably muddle on for a while with what I've been doing but it seems as though there have been more incidents of fin deterioration over the past month even though I've been keeping the same routine.

By the way, my betta is eating heartily, is active and seems happy.  No bubblenests for a few months, though.  :o(

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Elizabeth

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

How much temperature difference is the 3.5 gal? He could always be adjusted the lower temp by traditional floating him in a bag with a big volume of water.

It's very strange he has had such bad finrot that is reoccurring. But its good that he seems to be doing great regardless.

I wonder if he really is a "tail-biter" as they are called.  A bad habit that bettas sometimes develop where they nip their own fins and tail out of boredom or aggression and cause very ragged finnage. Of course, a diet lacking in something like vitamins could cause his fins to be extra weak and his body overall more susceptible to infections so I think I would be curious into feeding him very nutritious foods. I do like "Aqueon" brand of fish food. It contains better ingredients than most and also has a good amount of vitamins plus garlic added which is an appetite stimulator and also helps deter some parasitic infections.

You can either feed the Aqueon betta food or Aqueon Tropical flake food. Either one contains suitable nutrition.

There are also fish vitamin supplements you can soak their food in. I believe you can order some online at bigalsonline.com

Make sure he gets some protein and meaty type foods like frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp regularly for helping him regrow stronger fins.

The poor fella. I do hope his fins get a chance to heal and regrow for once. Hopefully I haven't already sent you this article and if I have, I do apologize for its easy for me to get mixed up do to advising so many different fishkeepers on a regular basis. :)

It's an article about "tail-biting" bettas-

http://nippyfish.net/tailbiting.html

And if you're curious. This is the link to some info about the Aqueon brand fish food-

http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/tropical-flakes.htm

I hope this helps!!!
Karen~