Tank size: 10 gallons, filtered, heated
pH: 7.2
ammonia: unknown
nitrite: unknown
nitrate: unknown
kH: unknown
gH: unknown
tank temp: 82 (slowly raised from 78 over the last 24 hours)
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Fish was absolutely fine (as she has been for the past 6 months that I have owned her) until about 4 days ago. 2 days prior to this sickness, I'd seen a small dead spider floating at the top of the tank. I figured that since my Betta loves bloodworms, she might like a spider as well. I left it in there and thought she had eaten it because I didn't see it for the rest of the day. Next afternoon I spotted it floating against the tip of the tallest rubber plant in the tank. I took a net and fished it out. The next morning, my Betta had developed a strange, bristly fuzz on her rump, near her tail and there was some fuzz on a couple pieces of leftover food. I had never seen fungus like this before. I consulted a friend who owns a lot of tropical fish and he said to do a complete water change and clean the plants and rocks really well. He said it may have been a venemous spider that tainted the water. I did as he said, added the usual water conditioner, and 1 spoonful of "Ick Away", which states that it treats Fungus and Parasites. 24 hours later, there was ZERO improvement. I changed 25% of the water and crossed my fingers, but yesterday her situation became even worse. She developed a red and white coloured sore on the lower right side of her belly, almost as if she'd been punched. Panicking, I went back to my friend for advice this morning. He told me to take the fish out of the tank and gently swab off the fungus with a Q-tip that had been dipped very lightly in hydrogen peroxide and to be sure that it got nowhere near the gills. I did this, and only managed to remove half of the fungus, leaving behind small, gaping holes in my fish's body where the fungus had been. She is currently back in the tank, looking utterly miserable and swimming along the bottom in a way that looks to me as if she's in pain.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: Currently 25% water change every day
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Water conditioner, Ick Away by Wardley Essentials
Tank inhabitants: 1 female Betta
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): One green plastic plant
I am sick to my stomach over this. It is absolutely heart-wrenching to watch my beautiful little fish suffer like this. I don't know what else to do for her. This looks like a very deep-rooted fungus that literally came out of nowhere! I have never had a problem with her tank before, nor with my 55-gallon tropical tank. Could this be some kind of poison or contamination from the spider? It's the only thing that seems to make sense. She looks so terrible right now that I don't know if she'll make it through the night. She's currently struggling to swim a little and keeps floating towards the top. Her colour is starting to fade.
Please... any advice will be graciously received. I'm on the verge of tears for this poor little fish. No living creature should have to suffer like this!
pH: 7.2
ammonia: unknown
nitrite: unknown
nitrate: unknown
kH: unknown
gH: unknown
tank temp: 82 (slowly raised from 78 over the last 24 hours)
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Fish was absolutely fine (as she has been for the past 6 months that I have owned her) until about 4 days ago. 2 days prior to this sickness, I'd seen a small dead spider floating at the top of the tank. I figured that since my Betta loves bloodworms, she might like a spider as well. I left it in there and thought she had eaten it because I didn't see it for the rest of the day. Next afternoon I spotted it floating against the tip of the tallest rubber plant in the tank. I took a net and fished it out. The next morning, my Betta had developed a strange, bristly fuzz on her rump, near her tail and there was some fuzz on a couple pieces of leftover food. I had never seen fungus like this before. I consulted a friend who owns a lot of tropical fish and he said to do a complete water change and clean the plants and rocks really well. He said it may have been a venemous spider that tainted the water. I did as he said, added the usual water conditioner, and 1 spoonful of "Ick Away", which states that it treats Fungus and Parasites. 24 hours later, there was ZERO improvement. I changed 25% of the water and crossed my fingers, but yesterday her situation became even worse. She developed a red and white coloured sore on the lower right side of her belly, almost as if she'd been punched. Panicking, I went back to my friend for advice this morning. He told me to take the fish out of the tank and gently swab off the fungus with a Q-tip that had been dipped very lightly in hydrogen peroxide and to be sure that it got nowhere near the gills. I did this, and only managed to remove half of the fungus, leaving behind small, gaping holes in my fish's body where the fungus had been. She is currently back in the tank, looking utterly miserable and swimming along the bottom in a way that looks to me as if she's in pain.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: Currently 25% water change every day
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Water conditioner, Ick Away by Wardley Essentials
Tank inhabitants: 1 female Betta
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): One green plastic plant
I am sick to my stomach over this. It is absolutely heart-wrenching to watch my beautiful little fish suffer like this. I don't know what else to do for her. This looks like a very deep-rooted fungus that literally came out of nowhere! I have never had a problem with her tank before, nor with my 55-gallon tropical tank. Could this be some kind of poison or contamination from the spider? It's the only thing that seems to make sense. She looks so terrible right now that I don't know if she'll make it through the night. She's currently struggling to swim a little and keeps floating towards the top. Her colour is starting to fade.
Please... any advice will be graciously received. I'm on the verge of tears for this poor little fish. No living creature should have to suffer like this!
