Do You Recognize This Illness?

[miraienh]

Pictures: link
2148 to 2166 prior to being sick
2211 to 2308 prior to bettafix.
2314 to 2338 after treatment with bettafix since October 12th



size: 1/2 gal
temperature: 78-77 degrees Fahrenheit (constant)
ammonia: 0 PPM
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 0 ppm
alkalinity: 80 ppm
pH: 7.2

He has been sick for a moderately long time, even before I got him from previous owners (he had signs of tailrot). Currently, his fins are becoming more transparent, there is a white stringy thing encasing some of the damaged parts of the fins, and the scales around his gills look raw. His beard is more pronounced, and I know that he has suffered gill damage (because they were bleeding a week ago, although that stopped now since I've actually taken away the salt from his tank). Currently I'm just treating him with Bettafix and conditioning his tank water with Jungle Start Right and Start Zyme. I feed him freeze dried bloodworms and flakes. He used to have a moss plant in his tank, but I've thrown it away along with the gravel.

He hasn't bled since I've taken the Aquarium salt away, and after treating him with Bettafix the white fungus-like thing has been reduced. However, I know see white spots along the underside of his mouth where the white "fungus-like thing" was. The inside of his mouth does not look infected with whatever is attacking his gills.

The condition from october 12th in my earlier forum post (on another site) has both improved and worsened.... He has his appetite back, he is more reactionary to me standing near him /approaching his tank, and he can move his head and can flush out his gill cover again without flinching in pain.

However, there is new growth on his fins, spots under his mouth, and his scales still look really raw and his fins now look transparent.

Can this be a reaction to the medication...? Or is he also sick with something else at the same time as suffering from bacterial/fungus infection?

 

[Flute]

Hi Miraienh!

Just a quick couple of questions so that we can get a better understanding of what is going on. The 1/2 gal tank is very, very small- is this his permanent tank, or a treatment tank? If this is the permanent tank, I would strongly suggest up grading to a minimum of 5 gal and have it heated and filtered. Mean while do you have a filter on the 1/2 gal, and if not, how often do you do water changes and how much?

Sorry for the questions, it'll just help us help you more efficiently

 

[miraienh]

Hi Miraienh!

Just a quick couple of questions so that we can get a better understanding of what is going on. The 1/2 gal tank is very, very small- is this his permanent tank, or a treatment tank? If this is the permanent tank, I would strongly suggest up grading to a minimum of 5 gal and have it heated and filtered. Mean while do you have a filter on the 1/2 gal, and if not, how often do you do water changes and how much?

Sorry for the questions, it'll just help us help you more efficiently

I am doing a fishless cycle for a 10 gallon tank in the other room; it will still be a couple more weeks until it is stable enough for fish.

The 1/2 gallon tank was an improvement on what he used to be in (literally, a tiny betta cube) with the previous owners... and is not going to be his permanent tank. I do a full water change with same-temperature water every day. I tried partial water changes before, but it had very little to no impact on the amount of ammonia present in the tank (since all of the food/feces/etc were at the bottom hidden under gravel).

 

[miraienh]

Hi Miraienh!

Just a quick couple of questions so that we can get a better understanding of what is going on. The 1/2 gal tank is very, very small- is this his permanent tank, or a treatment tank? If this is the permanent tank, I would strongly suggest up grading to a minimum of 5 gal and have it heated and filtered. Mean while do you have a filter on the 1/2 gal, and if not, how often do you do water changes and how much?

Sorry for the questions, it'll just help us help you more efficiently

I am doing a fishless cycle for a 10 gallon tank in the other room; it will still be a couple more weeks until it is stable enough for fish.

The 1/2 gallon tank was an improvement on what he used to be in (literally, a tiny betta cube) with the previous owners... and is not going to be his permanent tank. I do a full water change with same-temperature water every day. I tried partial water changes before, but it had very little to no impact on the amount of ammonia present in the tank (since all of the food/feces/etc were at the bottom hidden under gravel).

Does... no one really know what it is?

He still has the white stuff under the bottom part of his gill cover, but it isn't as severe. The medication says to use it for 7 days and then do a water change (I've been doing water changes every day since it's such a small tank) so I have... no idea... whether I should stop medicating him after the 7 day mark which we just crossed.

He seems happier, less lethargic, and I put back his silk plant after washing and air drying it for a few days to kill off anything that may have been living on it.

However, the white under his gill cover hasn't really improved and the white stuff on his fins is worrying me. The inflammation on his actual gills has been reduced though, and he isn't gasping for air anymore.

 

[MBOU]

The trouble with doing a water change that size every day is that you are taking the medication out every time and defeating the whole point of the treatment.

Almost better off doing fish in cycle in the bigger tank and smaller water changes. Dont have any gravel in it yet and feed very sparingly... like once every 3 days.

-larger tank with regular smaller water changes = better water hopefully and not being reinfected and treatment isnt removed every day.

-no gravel = none of the dirt building up and making illness worse

-just keep treating, personally i'd be using something like Myxazin

 

[Flute]

Sorry, I missed your reply!

Good on you for rescuing him miraienh Sounding good that he's less lethargic too.

Agreed with MBOU- I think you'd have a better of treating him in the larger tank. If you do move him to a bigger tank, just keep an eye on him that he can get to the surface easily, if not, drop the water level down.

It just sounds that being neglected for a long time has caught up with him, keep going and don't give up! Really hope he pulls through for you.

Perhaps Wilder might have some ideas on how to treat too?