Slimy substance in tank - and fin rot medicine

Question
Hi Chris,

Okay, I actually have two questions. Bear with the length as I'm trying to provide as much information as possible.

1. I've had two of my three bettas for a little over a month now. One is in a half-gallon tank with a rubber plant in it, the other in a one-gallon bowl with a little bridge ornament. I change the water every 3 to 4 days. The water parameters have been normal, or at least constant, since the day I got them. Lately, though, I've discovered this strange slimy substance that seems to cover every surface of the tank (the inside walls, ornaments, glass pebbles etc.) I haven't changed anything since I got them so I can't think of a reason for this.

I first discovered it in the half-gallon tank - a few days later, my betta in that tank developed fin rot. Today I discovered in the one-gallon bowl too. Strange thing is, my third betta (who gets the same food, water etc) in a one-gallon bowl hasn't been affected. What is this substance and how do I get rid of it? It doesn't look like anything and can only be detected by running a finger over the surfaces within the tank. The water looks normal too.

2. My second question: As mentioned before, one of my bettas (in the half-gallon tank) developed fin rot. It's not very severe (yet), at least half the fin is still there but there's definite fraying. I have Melafix, but I read that didn't work, so I went to the fish store and got a product called Patch-A-Tail by Nika. It instructed 1 drop per 1.2 gallons, so I put about half a drop in, but the minute I did that, all the water turned green in colour! I panicked and replaced all the water. Is green fin rot medicine normal??

Thanks a lot.

-Melissa

Answer
Hi Melissa;

1. Slimy stuff......Weird. There are "slime-molds" that do that. They grow over surfaces and are harmless to the fish but can indeed be annoying. They feed on waste and excess food. Just keep the tank as clean as possible is all I can really tell you. Trying to "kill it" can do more harm than good because it could hurt your fish. Sometimes bettas just put out extra slime too. I've heard from some betta owners that their betta tank has residue of some kind or oil on the surface. But they have others with the same setup, maintenance and food, but not all of them have the weird stuff. It may be something your fish have been "contributing" via their waste. Hard to say for sure. I guess we could put that in the "Benign Mysteries" category. ;-)

2. Finrot...... I've never heard of the medicine you are using but it is perfectly okay for a medicine to turn the water colors. Sometimes it's pretty dark too. Many medicines for fungal or bacterial infections contain dyes like that and are absorbed by the disease causing organism. It's how it's killed. Your betta may have had an injury to it's tail that you could not see until it started to rot. It can happen in transport or netting to move them. Or, it was just not kept in clean enough water at the fish store. Use the green medicine and the Melafix together. The green stuff kills the infection, the Melafix helps regenerate and heal damaged tissues.

I hope he feels better soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins