Help! Fin rot?

**Greentoads41** · 02-16-2013, 11:19 PM

I have 2 harlequin rasboras in my newly set up quarantine tank right now. They both have whitish scales on their sides, and one especially has extreme white pectoral fins. I suspect fin rot. their behavior is normal, but the one with extreme white fins seems to be using them more than he should. Water parameters are normal. Is this fin rot? How could this have happened, and how can it be treated?
IMGP4300.jpg IMGP4301.jpg IMGP4302.jpg IMGP4303.jpg White fin quarantine.jpg

**fishmommie** · 02-17-2013, 01:26 AM

It's a little difficult to tell from the photos but it does appear there is some fin damage. Did you just purchase the fish? If so, I'd take them back and ask for replacements.

Or if you choose not to do that, you could try large daily water changes as fresh water is the best thing to remedy fin rot if that's what this is. Some feel that a mix of pimafix and melafix may also help with fin rot or fungus
Good luck

**Greentoads41** · 02-17-2013, 02:16 AM

Thanks you for your reply. I purchased them about a month ago, possibly more. Do you have any ideas on the best way to do water changes on a small tank like my quarantine? Do i take the fish out of the tank? It is only about 3-4 gallons.

**Limming** · 02-17-2013, 02:29 AM

What I do for water changes is to take a piece of air hose and draw a siphon and let it drain. Its just a smaller version of doing water changes on a larger tank.

**KevinVA** · 02-17-2013, 03:11 AM

If the water changes don't work, try Fungus Guard. My Betta had pretty bad fin rot and water changes did not help. Fungus Guard did, and it doesn't kill inverts or beneficial bacteria. You may need to add a bubbler, though, ton increase free oxygen in your tank.

**Greentoads41** · 02-17-2013, 03:13 AM

Wow thats actually a really good idea Limming!

Did you think of that yourself lol
And will just some air hose on a suction cup stuck at the bottom of the tank work? That is all the materials I have available, and it is what I have in my 30 gal. I'll do some water changes, and I do have some fungus guard available if it comes to that.

**Limming** · 02-17-2013, 03:19 AM

Yep! A air hose is all you need for mine I just had it held down by the lid.

**Greentoads41** · 02-17-2013, 03:34 AM

Good deal! If I do use the fungus guard, how would I use it in a small tank? Each tablet supports 10 gallons, and the tank is smaller than that. Would I chop the tablet in half or something?

**KevinVA** · 02-17-2013, 03:37 AM

I would disolve 1/4 of the tablet in a plastic/paper (or whatever you have available, that you don't mind staining) cup filled with tank water, then pour it into the tank. Give it 4 days. If it works, it works. If not, do 25% water change and add another 1/4 disolved tablet for another 4 days. The benefits of using such a small QT is saving money on meds. ;]

**Greentoads41** · 02-17-2013, 03:50 AM

I think I'll do that right away. In a week from now, if they die or have really horrendous looking fins and I didn't put fungus guard in the tank, then I would berate myself with the "what if's" until i hate fish keeping and fish in general. But This happens about once every two weeks anyway, and I'm still loving it!

No water changes once I put the tablet in, right?