tail-rot

Question
Hello,

I have a two gallon tank with a filter & light. I'm thinking about buying a 3 gallon with a heater. Do heaters come with tanks, or do I buy one and attach it somewhere? Where do I attach it to? That algae eater sounds like a good idea, I'll probably do that after I get a new tank. Thank you so much!!

-Kristina
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello,

Thank you for your response. Luckily, my betta died shortly after I wrote to you, so I did not have to destroy him. =)

I'm thinking about buying a new one. I have already cleaned the tank thoroughly with boiling water. But  would like to ask if I have to rid of the bacteria completely before putting a new fish in. Is there any risk for the new fish to catch tail-rot if there is even a small trace of the bacteria still left in the tank? Or does it only become harmful to a fish in large amounts? Would I be better off just buying a new tank altogether?

Thank you kindly for your time!

-Kristina
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Please help! I am a beginner betta owner, my betta apparently has had tail-rot. I had no idea there was even such a thing until I looked up his symptoms. I immediately transferred him to a clean bowl, but when I did, his fin completely fell off and began to bleed! He has no fin, he can hardly swim and he hasn't eaten for 2 days. Is there any hope for him at all? I've been putting tail-rot medicine drops in his tank, but is his sickness too far advanced to help? Any advice I would greatly appreciate. Thanks so much.

-Kristina
-----Answer-----
It sounds too far gone. Best to destroy the fish if the medicine hasn't worked.
After the fish is destroyed, clean the tank thoroughly.
Note: bettas CAN be put in community tanks as long as the betta is the ONLY betta in the tank.
-----Answer-----
The boiling water was a good idea. Best not to fill it with water yet though. Best to use soap to disinfect the tank. Besure to rinse all soap out for it is harmful to fish.
I am sorry to hear he died but he was too far gone.
I am curious as to what type of tank you have. If it is a betta tank, get a new one. Those bowls are are useless and kill the betta. In that case best to get a small tank (like a three gallon) and fill the tank as you would any tank with other fish (air pump, filter, heater,light, ect). Bettas are harmless to other fish so you can put in a cat fish and algae eater to keep the tank clean.

Answer
Some tanks do but often it is accompanied by the light, filter, and everything else. A two gallon is a good size for a betta with the company of a catfish and algae eaters. Heaters are relatively cheap and if you don't want any more fish, stick with the two gallon. But you way want another small tank as a quaruntine tank for new or sick fish (after you have more than just one fish).

Here's a tip:
There are little cermaic things that go into the filter that trap bacteria. I have only seen them in Aqua Giant but they could be else where. They do a very good job at keeping the tank healthy