Betta looks moldy

[lizard]

Hi all!

I was just down the hall checking out a friend's new Betta (she's had him for three or four days). He has white fuzz on him, almost looks like he's moldy. He's mostly sitting at the top of the tank, but that might be because the gal has so many plants in there (I've told her that she has too many plants in there and needs to remove some, but she hasn't done so yet. She's not the brightest person in the world.). I looked at the fish dieases page at "Pandora's Aquarium" and what "Blue Tail" has looks like either "Cotton Fin Fungus" or "Body Fungus" (I know both are caused by the same species of pathogen and that treatment is the same).

The aquarium the Betta is in is a one gallon with a UGF. There are three Ghost Shrimp in with him. As mentioned above, there are way too many plants in it (the Betta can get to the top for air - I've made sure of that). Could the fungus have been carried on the plants? Is it most likely just due to stress? What do we treat it with?

Thanks everyone!

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[dixaisy930]

I've been trying to figure out what I've been loosing bettas, and it sounds the exact same. Mine have died within days though.

 

[Sea_Monster87]

It sounds like Velvet to me. It's kind of like ich, only a bit more serious. It's more contagious than ich. You should up the temp. in the tank and give it 2 grains of aquarium salt per tank gallon. Commercial treatment may help it heal faster. 8)

 

[lizard]

It sounds like Velvet to me. It's kind of like ich, only a bit more serious. It's more contagious than ich. You should up the temp. in the tank and give it 2 grains of aquarium salt per tank gallon. Commercial treatment may help it heal faster. 8)

I thought Velvet was sort of like little granules or dust, not a cottony covering. Last night they went and got some fungus clear treatment-stuff and also added a bit of aquarium salt to the water. Today they were going to do a water change (when they discovered the problem last night it was quite late). I'll post another update when I find out more.

Pamela
aka Lizard

 

[Cian McLiam]

If it is fungus, it should collapse and look like damp tissue when you take the fish out of water, try lifting the fish out by hand if its on top of the water, it's less stressful than a net. If it doesnt collapse it could be a tumour or lymphocystitis. My money would be on fungus tho. Salt is a good treatment for fungus as is painting on Malachite Green to the affected area. Read the bits about treating with salt on fishplace.org for dosing guidlines etc.

Ken

 

[Cian McLiam]

Just a thought, it could also be excess mucous from the fishes skin, maybe in response to a PH change or ammonia burns??
Has the water been tested??
Ken