Fin And Tail Rot?

[mickdigler]

My wife and I just got a new Shubunkin and the little guy does not look good. We think it is fin and tail rot so we put him in a cycled 10 gal tank and gave him MelaFix. I have three questions:

1. Is this actually fin and tail rot?

2. If so, is MelaFix the best thing for him or is there something better?

3. If cured, will his fin and tail grow back?

Thanks!

Sorry about the pictures, the little guy is hard to photograph

Edited September 3, 2008 by mickdigler

[kittyfiends]

I'm no expert, but it looks to me that it could be. You need to answer the questions first, so a moderator can help you.

[*]Test Results for the Following:

[*]Ammonia Level?

[*]Nitrite Level?

[*]Nitrate level?

[*]Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)?

[*]Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)?

[*]Brand of test-kit used and whether strips or drops?

[*]Water temperature?

[*]Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running?

[*]What is the name and size of the filter(s)?

[*]How often do you change the water and how much?

[*]How many fish in the tank and their size?

[*]What kind of water additives or conditioners?

[*]What do you feed your fish and how often?

[*]Any new fish added to the tank?

[*]Any medications added to the tank?

[*]Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus?

[*]Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc.?

[mickdigler]

I didn't provide those answers because I didn't feel they had any relevancy to his current state...we just got him yesterday. I have no idea what the conditions were that he had been living in, the conditions which likely caused or contributed to his current state.

For what its worth, here are the answers for the conditions he is living in now:

Ammonia Level?

0 ppm

Nitrite Level?

0 ppm

Nitrate level?

0 ppm

Ph Level, Tank (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)?

7.2

Ph Level, Tap (If possible, KH, GH and chloramines)?

6.8

Brand of test-kit used and whether strips or drops?

Jungle Labs Test strips

Water temperature?

unknown

Tank size (how many gals.) and how long has it been running?

10 gal running for 2 months

What is the name and size of the filter(s)?

Marineland Penguin 100

How often do you change the water and how much?

Weekly, 2 to 2.5 gallons

How many fish in the tank and their size?

1 Shubunkin, 1" in length

What kind of water additives or conditioners?

Stability and Amquel+

What do you feed your fish and how often?

Tetra goldfish flakes twice a day

Any new fish added to the tank?

Comet, the fish in question was added yesterday

Any medications added to the tank?

MelaFix

Any unusual findings on the fish such as "grains of salt," bloody streaks, frayed fins or fungus?

Lack of fins or tail; one normal looking eye one solid black eye - black like all pupil

Any unusual behavior like staying at the bottom, not eating, etc.?

None observed

[d_golem]

It is indeed fin and tail rot (finrot, for simplicity's sake ) and treated correctly the fins will eventually grow back.

Melafix is good, however the best cure is continuous pristine water condition. The little guy looks ok besides the absent fins. May I know where you got him from?

[mickdigler]

We got him from pets*mart. My wife cried when she saw him and the shape he was in. We wanted to bring him home and hopefully nurse him back to health.

Edited September 3, 2008 by mickdigler