W and S: Water (aged and filtered for several days) changed each day during treatment or every second day (less then 5 days so far into treatment) I have an old Dr. Innes book (way back in 40's) which uses salt and as a child that's all I ever used, even for one gourami (of two) that leap out of the tank and when I came back from school, they were dried on one side like leaves. did experiment and treated one with salt other without, fungus and death on one other recovered and lived. (I did try to catch up with fungus one but to far gone as I am not intential cruel but did want to see how well salt works) (I have an old water cure book from Zen monastary, and salt water is great when you have stomach or food poisoning, too much drinking so on, drink and purge then when done swallow a little, stops everything instantly) This research shows this and that is what worries me a bit - that the dot might be something else... (The most common way of diagnosing ich is by close observation of the infected fishes. The presence of small, (.5 to 1.0 mm) white dots scattered about on the fishes' skin. This is not always proof that the fish is infected with ich as several other infections can have a similar appearance. Proof positive can be obtained by removing one of the spots and observing it under a microscope. Ich has a small micronucleus and a prominant crescent-shaped macronucleus.) Well thanks once again for all of your marvelous help and time will tell (wish I had a microscope)... best Sherry

A word about stores and Bettas in jars....... I work in a fish store that sells Bettas and other tropicals and salt water fish. We have to keep them in jars (approx 2 cups of water per jar) for display only. When you have twenty five Betta its impossible to have 25 separate ten gallon tanks set up for one male Betta in each. Our boys water is changed daily, they eat bloodworms and betta pellets and we offer many larger options for Betta housing for when they go home. We explain to the customer that the bowls are holding areas only and the boys need a bigger permanent housing . We cant keep them in with the other fish as alot of them will shred his fins and some of the tanks have too strong of a current on them for Bettas or the water conditions are not suitable for them, brackish etc. The only way for stores to offer them for sale and to keep the fish in good condition is to use the small bowls. Bettas are a solitary fish in the wild so being alone doesnt bother them and if they are kept in clean water and fed well the short time in the small jar does them no harm, many start new bubble nests everyday after the water changes. Please dont think badly of all fish stores just because a few keep them in dirty half empty containers, a good fish store wont do that. Talk to the manager of the store if you find the fish in bad conditions , a good one will fix the trouble. I hope this helps explain why the boys are kept in jars. If you think the jars are bad you should see how they are shipped to the store!! Tiny triangle shape bags with just enough water to cover the fish, I mean a couple of tablespoons of water tops! That makes me mad, they could surely afford a bigger bag with more water.

Set up the new tank using as much of the old water as you can, and put the old filter media inside the new filter along with the media it came with. (Unless you can replace the new media entirely with the old stuff. Depends on the filters.) If it won't fit, run both filters for a while (a month?). There is a possibility the new tank could mini-cycle, especially if you're changing gravel and ornaments, but it shouldn't be anything to harm your fish. Be sure to test the water daily for a while after switching.

Sounds like he might unfortunately...good news is it is curable...It takes a different amount of time for each fish...Just Go to your local aquarium and fish shop and ask for their best medication for fin rot. I cant remember the one i have always used but they will be able to help you. I always leave my medication in the tank for as long as possible. Do not change the water. Just top up the tank as it evaporates. The medication i use turns the water a blue colour. Put him in a small tank..anything less then 5litres as you then wont have to use as much medication. Once you are sure that the fin rot is gone you can then change the water in the tank.