Asked on the Fish Forum by Anonymous on 5/22/02, 9:22 pm
Q: sick betta
I think my betta is sick, but I have no clue what it is from. I have been keeping them for years and never seen anything like what she has on her. Okay I will first tell you I got 4 female bettas in a 10 gallon tank. I have checked the ph and all that good stuff, I do that weekly. I change 25%% of the water weekly. Anyway to the point she has a round spot on her side and one side of her gill looks crusty. I am sorry, but this is the only way I can explain it. She is always hiding in the top quarter lately, and she won't eat, so I know there is something wrong. Anway to answer any other questions you might have--I haven't given any medications, I keep the water at 78, and I also put a little salt in their tank, and yes the salt for tanks.
Answered by Vickey on 5/23/02, 3:29 am
A: sick betta
> I think my betta is sick, but I have no clue what
> it is from. I have been keeping them for years and
> never seen anything like what she has on her. Okay
> I will first tell you I got 4 female bettas in a
> 10 gallon tank. I have checked the ph and all that
> good stuff, I do that weekly. I change 25%% of the
> water weekly. Anyway to the point she has a round
> spot on her side and one side of her gill looks
> crusty. I am sorry, but this is the only way I can
> explain it. She is always hiding in the top
> quarter lately, and she won't eat, so I know there
> is something wrong. Anway to answer any other
> questions you might have--I haven't given any
> medications, I keep the water at 78, and I also
> put a little salt in their tank, and yes the salt
> for tanks.
>
It sounds that you've done a wonderful job caring for your fish and keeping their water in line. Thanks for all your detailed inforamtion! It makes our job MUCH easier.
You said that you've been keeping them for years. I'm not sure if you mean bettas in general, or these particular fish. Bettas only live 2-3 years with excellent care. If you've had your fish that long, then I'm afraid old age is setting in there isn't much you can do for your fish without causing more stress to her. when bettas get up around 2 or so, they can begin to exhibit signs of disease, but at that age, there really isn't anything you can do to save them. You take excellent care of the water, and sound like you know what you're doing. If it were my fish I would defnitely claim old age and allow the fish to pass away in peace.
OTHERWISE - If your fish is not that old, then treatment certainly is possible. I would first remove the fish to a bare hospital tank with a heater, thermoeter, and a floating type silk plant for comfort.
The round spot - is it flat, raised, tumor like, black, white, fungu covered, etc. Can you provide more detail on what the spot looks like? Same with the crusty gill. Can you provide a little more info.?
Your fish could be suffering from any type of parasite infection, bacterial, or fungal. If you can provide more info. on what the fish's side and gill look like, I think I can pinpoint better what it might be.
Answered by stomkat on 5/23/02, 6:38 am
A: sick betta
Remove her IMMEDIATELY! The other bettas will sense her weakened state and kill her.
As Vickey said, you'll have to give more of a description of the sore. And tell what color the betta is. Is the sore red in the middle with white edges? White with red edges?
The "crusty" gill: does it have tufts of puffy white stuff on it?
From your description, I'm leaning toward thinking she got into a fight with another female and was damaged...and now it's getting infected.
