Betta Rapidly deteriorating, black holes in fins!?

[JNorjack]

Hello, 

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago about helping my Bettas fins grow back faster after him going through a few troubles with tank mates etc. He was doing very well but progress started going very slowly. Here is the link to my original post and I've also put a screenshot of my original post below too:

 https://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/20149-how-to-help-betta-fins-grow-faster/#comment-178936

Myself and my partner tested our water (as we have done many times before). NT labs multi test kit and every single value was exactly as should be, nothing awry or bad things creeping up at all. We also followed all of the advice given in the comments on the previous post:

Turning water temp up a small amount

Getting Indian Almond leaves

Buy high quality freeze dried brine shrimp

And we have also done the following that was advised by our LFS:

Doing a round of Myxazin (fin rot treatment)

And now also gradually adding aquarium salt (dose of 3g per litre gradually over 4 days)

But the Betta has been getting worse!!! And in some close up shots I managed to get there seems to be black holes in his fins? He also seems very lethargic and just sits at the bottom of his tank almost all day and his colour has once again starting fading.

Its so horrible to see him like this but me and my partner literally feel like we are at a complete dead end and we don't know if anything else we can try and why he is getting worse when we are giving him the best care we are able to. Any help, advice, comments or suggestions would be much appreciated!

TIA

Edited February 12, 2022 by JNorjack
To add extra photos

[Colu]

At his point I would treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic like kanaplex or sera baktopur direct tables as he's not looking good you could Also up the aquarium salt to 1table spoon for 2 gallons 

[JNorjack]

@Coluthank you very much for your reply, I will look into what you have mentioned and see about the possibility of more salt. It's genuinely baffling, we have done almost as much as we can but as soon as we get some progress is takes a turn for the worst 😕

[Colu]

On 2/14/2022 at 3:39 PM, JNorjack said:

@Coluthank you very much for your reply, I will look into what you have mentioned and see about the possibility of more salt. It's genuinely baffling, we have done almost as much as we can but as soon as we get some progress is takes a turn for the worst 😕

Betta are heavily inbred and often have poor health

Edited February 14, 2022 by Colu
Typo

[JNorjack]

On 2/14/2022 at 4:31 PM, Colu said:

Betta are heavily inbred and often have poor heal

Ah I see, I didn't realize, Thank you

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

@JNorjack I just want to pipe in and say that there are a lot of excellent fish keepers on this forum that have a hard time keeping Bettas. As Colu said they are heavily inbred and also my suspicion is that the industry is so focused on "building" bettas with longer and longer fins or this or that feature that it is detrimental for the fish. If you search the forum for sick or dying betta unfortunately you will see it is far and away the fish most people seek help for. I'm also finding they need much warmer temps and humidity to survive for longer periods of time which is not always something that's easy to do for a lot of us (the temp easy enough the humidity can be tricky). 

I say this because I understand why people get attached to them- they are amazing little personalities. I've had a handful in my lifetime but have not been successful with them so I won't be keeping them anymore, and I think there are others here that feel the same way but I can only speak for myself. They break your heart. So I understand what you are going through- I hope you are successful in your treatment but if you are not, know that you are indeed doing everything you possibly can. I cross my fingers for you.

[JNorjack]

On 2/14/2022 at 4:52 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said:

@JNorjack I just want to pipe in and say that there are a lot of excellent fish keepers on this forum that have a hard time keeping Bettas. As Colu said they are heavily inbred and also my suspicion is that the industry is so focused on "building" bettas with longer and longer fins or this or that feature that it is detrimental for the fish. If you search the forum for sick or dying betta unfortunately you will see it is far and away the fish most people seek help for. I'm also finding they need much warmer temps and humidity to survive for longer periods of time which is not always something that's easy to do for a lot of us (the temp easy enough the humidity can be tricky). 

I say this because I understand why people get attached to them- they are amazing little personalities. I've had a handful in my lifetime but have not been successful with them so I won't be keeping them anymore, and I think there are others here that feel the same way but I can only speak for myself. They break your heart. So I understand what you are going through- I hope you are successful in your treatment but if you are not, know that you are indeed doing everything you possibly can. I cross my fingers for you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this @xXInkedPhoenixX I greatly appreciate it and also am still grateful for the helpful comments you offered on my original post before this one. They are definitely little guys you get attached to! Trying the next round of treatment but not hopeful currently, but is comforting to know that even experienced fishkeepers can struggle, makes me feel a lot less frustrated and confused!