New betta fish, white discoloration

[katienewbettakeeper]

I got this fish yesterday from petco, he had raggedy fins that indicated fin rot and a very sad expression, and he won me over so I brought him home. noticed this white spot on the drive home, not sure what it is. fungal infection, tumor, scar? He’s very sluggish and stays at the bottom unless getting air, although i’m sure that has to do with the fin rot as well. I have him in a hospital tank rn, but i’m not medicating him, just doing large water changes daily and I have cattappa leaves and spiderwood in the tank. i’m not sure he’ll make it and it’d break my heart if i couldn’t save him. any advice?

parameters and tank info:

0ppm ammonia
0ppm nitrite
0ppm nitrate

temp is 76 Fahrenheit

tank is 3 gallons
i am dosing daily with prime and doing 80% water changes daily
I have an anubias and some floating plants, as well as a small sponge filter in the tank
theres also cattappa leaves and a small piece of spider wood in the tank

 

[Colin_T]

Possibly fungus or excess mucous where a scale has pulled out.

If it doesn't improve after a few water changes, add some salt.
Raise the temperature a few degrees too (79-82F).

--------------------
SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt) or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, Bettas & gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

Possibly fungus or excess mucous where a scale has pulled out.

If it doesn't improve after a few water changes, add some salt.
Raise the temperature a few degrees too (79-82F).

--------------------
SALT
You can add rock salt (often sold as aquarium salt) or swimming pool salt to the aquarium at the dose rate of 1 heaped tablespoon per 20 litres of water. If there is no improvement after 48 hours you can double that dose rate so there is 2 heaped tablespoons of salt per 20 litres.

Keep the salt level like this for at least 2 weeks but no longer than 4 weeks otherwise kidney damage can occur. Kidney damage is more likely to occur in fish from soft water (tetras, Corydoras, angelfish, Bettas & gouramis, loaches) that are exposed to high levels of salt for an extended period of time, and is not an issue with livebearers, rainbowfish or other salt tolerant species.

The salt will not affect the beneficial filter bacteria, fish, plants, shrimp or snails.

After you use salt and the fish have recovered, you do a 10% water change each day for a week using only fresh water that has been dechlorinated. Then do a 20% water change each day for a week. Then you can do bigger water changes after that. This dilutes the salt out of the tank slowly so it doesn't harm the fish.

If you do water changes while using salt, you need to treat the new water with salt before adding it to the tank. This will keep the salt level stable in the tank and minimise stress on the fish.

When you first add salt, add the salt to a small bucket of tank water and dissolve the salt. Then slowly pour the salt water into the tank near the filter outlet. Add the salt over a couple of minutes.

I’ve been doing the salt treatments (and raised the temperature to 80) for the past three days now, and he’s had huge improvement! swims around and explores like a normal betta, and I got him to eat a little food. i’m sure the clean water and steady temp is helping too. Unfortunately, his spot hasn’t changed at all. I’m going to keep doing the salt treatments for another 12 days or so. I’m currently dissolving 2 teaspoons of salt in three gallons, which I think should work. today I also started using kanaplex, which should also hopefully help with his fins. thanks for the advice!

 

[Colin_T]

Kanaplex is an antibiotic called Kanamycin and should only be used on known bacterial infections that haven't responded to normal medications and treatments. Improper use and mis-use of antibiotics has lead to drug resistant bacteria that kill people, animals, birds, fish and reptiles.

If you have to use antibiotics, they should be used in bare tanks so the medication can work on the fish instead of being wasted killing things in the gravel and filter.

Before re-treating with antibiotics, the tank should be wiped out and all the water changed, then a new dose of medication added.

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

Kanaplex is an antibiotic called Kanamycin and should only be used on known bacterial infections that haven't responded to normal medications and treatments. Improper use and mis-use of antibiotics has lead to drug resistant bacteria that kill people, animals, birds, fish and reptiles.

If you have to use antibiotics, they should be used in bare tanks so the medication can work on the fish instead of being wasted killing things in the gravel and filter.

Before re-treating with antibiotics, the tank should be wiped out and all the water changed, then a new dose of medication added.

thanks, I didn’t know it could have any bad effects! kind of scary that they sell it without any warnings about resistance. it was recommended to me by a few people and i just took their word for it. I used it once and did a 90% water change the next day. Still doing the salt treatments as well. I got him to eat lots of baby brine shrimp (accidentally grabbed the baby kind at the store so i’ll have to go back for some bloodworms/adult brine shrimp tomorrow) and a couple bits of pre-soaked pellets (he won’t eat it dry, seems to just overall not like it) and i’m keeping up with the daily large water changes until his five gallon is done cycling and he’s improved more. I still have no idea what exactly is wrong with him which sucks. the white spot hasn’t gone away. his fins have a tiny bit of regrow that which is good to see. His behaviour definitely improved, much more energetic and curious. his scales overall have a bumpy texture, not like dropsy more like little spots of scale overgrowth or injury(?)that won’t show up on camera very well. If you or anyone could help me figure out more specifically what’s wrong with him i’d appreciate it a lot, so here’s some more photos!

 

[Colin_T]

Does the fish rub on objects in the tank?

The fish just looks run down and tired. Good food and clean water should get it back into good condition. Feed it a varied diet and do big regular water changes and see how it goes.