Ragged fins

[Kinbote]

I've been treating two hoplos and 9 rosy tetras for ich using salt (2 teaspoons per gallon) and high temperature (30C / 86F) for about 10 days with regular water changes.

The ich seems to be completely gone, but now the rosy tetras' fins are starting to look ragged, with some disintegration and vertical splits on the dorsal fins.

Does it sound like bacterial fin rot or could it just be the result of the high temperature and high salt? I'm gradually reducing both.

 

[calioutlaw1a]

Secondary bacterial infections are common with ich. Unfortunately this is especially true when increasing the temperature to treat ich because bacterial growth is actually promoted by increased temperatures. I just finished treating a group of platies and plecos that had ich with secondary fin rot.

Reduce the temperature and do regular water changes to return everything to normal, as you are doing now. Monitor them for a few days. If the fins look like they are still getting worse, begin treatment with an antibiotic. Otherwise, if they are eating and behaving normally, and their fins seem ok, then they will be fine.

As a general rule, I feel comfortable returning the fish to the main tank once I begin to see improvement in the fins, in addition to a good appetite and normal behavior.