Mystery Betta Illness, Help!

[keithp]

Last week my male betta had a tiny roundish white spot on his fin, I never actually found out what it was, and it went away. A few days ago he got the same thing on his other fin, but now he has developed a grayish coating below his eyes and on his face, he is flashing against the tank constantly, and is not eating good now. The first picture is from last week when he just had the dot, the 2nd picture is from today, you can see he looks much worse and had the gray film. I dont see any gold specks to indicate velvet, and the white spot seems too few for ich? I need to nkow if there is any medication I can pick up and how to help him. He has never been sick before.

last week

today

 

[fluffycabbage]

looks like my betta when he got columnaris how are the water stats?

 

[keithp]

Water stats are fine. it's hard finding a match to this, as slime disease also matches this, and velvet might too. How do you tell them all apart?

Could he have fish lice, that left a wound and then he got an infection?

I want to give him meds but I cant until I am sure about what he has. Every bit of time counts as he will only get worse as time progresses without help. Would maracyn or maracyn two work?

Maracyn- A broad-spectrum antibiotic used in the treatment of body fungus, fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, secondary infections and other gram-positive bacterial infections and fungal diseases. Active ingredient: erythromycin.

Maracyn Two- A broad-spectrum antibiotic for internal or external gram-negative bacterial infections. Effective treatment for fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease, dropsy, bleeding or red streaks, secondary and internal infections. Also helps treat sick fish that will not eat. Active ingredient: Minocycline.

 

[WILDER]

I can see tiny white spots on the fish in the pic.
Is this right, as pics can be deceiving.

If so treat for whitespot.
Greyish white film can also indicate parasites aswell.

 

[the biffster]

have any new fish been added
to the tank in the last few weeks

 

[keithp]

have any new fish been added
to the tank in the last few weeks

No, he lives alone, always has. The white dot by his eye is his nostril, he has a white spot on his fin, but ive been told it's either fish herpes or fish lice, but without being certain it's no help.

 

[the biffster]

you see i cant see it been
parasite if there's been no new
stock added i have heard and
been told that white spot lays
dormant in all fish so there
is a chance that it came in on
the fish if it is white spot
up your temp to 80 81 and treat
with an off the self white spot
treatment just follow the instructions
waterlife do one of the best protazin
is the one


the more i look at the photos
the more i think there's nothing wrong with
him hes an handsome looking fish and
your good at taking close ups nice photos

 

[WILDER]

Spots on fins can be parasites, bacterial, lmythocystis, tumours, calcium deposits.

Is the fish flicking and rubbing.

Fish lice looks disc shape on the fish with legs.

 

[keithp]

He is flicking against the tank, but being his head is only affected, he rams himself into the tank. Something is definitely wrong with him, the gray slime on his face is nor normal. I picked up Maracyn for him, most of his symptoms match what it treats.

 

[keithp]

His poo is also coming out partly clear and stringy, yet he has not had enough to eat to be constipated, and he just had a pea 2 days ago. Whatever it is has also begun to infect him internally, they do have anti bacteria, anti parasite meds, think it might be Bacteria?

 

[fluffycabbage]

His poo is also coming out partly clear and stringy, yet he has not had enough to eat to be constipated, and he just had a pea 2 days ago. Whatever it is has also begun to infect him internally, they do have anti bacteria, anti parasite meds, think it might be Bacteria?

so are you treating with maracyn now? i cant remember what it treats tbh, but if it doesnt treat internal bacteria it might be worth treating with that instead (interpet do a good one). is it only the single white spot? is it fluffy?

 

[keithp]

I am starting with Maracyn today, and no, the spot isnt fluffy at all. It's flat, along with the gray slime on his face. It might be whatever this is is at the early stages, and full signs havent developed yet. But waiting for signs to show up is not good. I will jsut have to wait and see what happens, if this medication doesnt work i'll have to try and find another that will work.

 

[WILDER]

The symtoms you are describing are pointing towards bacterial, parasites.

Maracyn is a bacterial med. A very good one at that.

If there no improvement with the maracyn get back to the board.

Good Luck.

Keep an eye out for these signs.

Flicking and rubbing.
Darting.
Erratic swimming.
laboured breathing.
Excess slime.
Swimming in a jerky movment.
Greyish blue film on fish.
Red pin prick marks or sores.
Tiny white grains of salt spots on fish.
Yellow spots, rusty coloured varnish, gold dusting.
Talc dusting.

Get a magifying glass to take a closer look at the body and gills of the fish, to see if you can see any external parasites.
Look out for lifted scales also.

 

[keithp]

I check on the fish today and the grayish film is already starting to go away, and he is eating more. I am not celebrating yet until he is done with the full treatment, and stays well. But hopefully I caught it in time and he will fully recover.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
It's sounding like columnaris then. They can sometimes flick and rub with columnaris.

But still keep a look out for parasite signs.

Good Luck.